Inhabitants in 1991: 43.522
The
municipal territory of Empoli in Valdarno Inferiore extends for 62,28
square kilometres in the plains. Medieval fortified centre of notable
importance reduced to modest community in the course of the XVI century,
was restored to its importance by Pietro Leopoldo who conferred on
it the jurisdiction over a territory more or less identical to its own.
Empoli flourished in the Roman era corresponding to the third
outstation of the ancient road from Firenze to Pisa, in the XII century
is was a feudal possession of the Guidi Counts. In 1120 it was fortified
by Count Guido Guerra, but the geographical importance of this castle
was too relevant for Firenze to not try to annex it. So in 1182 the
Fiorentina republic forced Empoli to swear allegiance, and in the
following decade continued its work of progressive subjugation acquiring
from Guidi, in 1255, the dominion of the greater part of the castle for
the sum of 28,700 pounds; in 1273 the annexation was completed with the
acquisition, still from Guidi, of the remaining part of the Empoli district
for 8,000 pounds. Empoli's central position made it certain that
it was intended as a place for convening the representatives of the
various Tuscana municipals: the most famous being that of Ghibellino
in September 1260. Farinata degli Uberti, courageously defended the right
of the survival of Firenze after the defeat of Montaperti. In 1333 the
walls of Empoli were destroyed by the river Arno overflowing; rebuilt
in 1337; a new wall belt became necessary in the second half of the XV
century by the population expansion. Seized in 1530 by the undisciplined
soldiers of Vitelli and the Marquis of Vasto. it suffered sackage and
grave destruction; in memory of the courageous resistance by Empoli
during the assault Vasar painted the event in the Palazzo Vecchio in
Firenze. During the Grand Duchy it was the Seat of Office of a
Podesta with civil and criminal jurisdiction; in 1774 Pietro Leopoldo
added the municipals of Monterappoli and Pontorme (birthplace of Jacopo
Carucci called the Pontormo, 1494-1556); a singular episode of support
by Empoli for the Lorenese dynasty was the revolt of "Viva Maria" against
the French in May of 1799. The population's traditional liberty and
democracy was strongly repressed with Fascism (the bloodshed of 1921
served as a tragic excuse); new bereavements were added with the war and
the reprisals; in the bombardments of the city on 26 December 1943 more
than 100 people died; 29 citizens were shot by the Germans the following
July. At the moment of the Liberation on 15 July 1944, Empoli was a heap
of rubble, but the tenacity of its inhabitants made a rapid rebirth
possible.
Places to visit: Piazza Farinata degli Uberti,
ancient historic nucleus of the town, surrounded by gates and embellished
by a 1800s marble fountain Collegiata di S. Andrea, preserves
the lower part of the facade going back to 1093. The bombardment of
the last world war badly damaged the interior and exterior of the
collegiate, which however has been restored and reconstructed.
Museum of the S. Andrea Collegiate, adjacent to the church
was instituted in 1859. It is one of the oldest and most important
of the ecclesiastic museums of Toscana. The museum tour also provides
a visit to the church of S. Stefano from the XIV century annexed to
the convent of the Agostiniani. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |