Guardistallo

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Inhabitants in 1991: 938

The municipal territory extends for 23,79 square kilometres in Val di Cecina, on the summit of a hill which slopes to the north east towards the influx of the Sterza river with the Cecina. It became autonomous community with the Leopoldine laws.

A castle of Longobarda origins, as its name testifies, in the XI century Guardistallo was under the Lordship of the della Gherardesca, who in 1154 donated it to the Bishop of Volterra, on whom it depended, for Ecclesiastic jurisdiction, even in the following centuries. Placed under the political dominion of Pisa it rebelled in 1345 when that republic was threatened by Luchino Visconti. Reduced to obedience, it followed their fate until the victory by Firenze in 1406, to whom in the same year it vowed loyalty. In 1447 it was occupied by the army of Alfonso di Aragona, King of Napoli. Shortly after it was again conquered by Firenze, and successively participated in the unfortunate rebellion of Pisa against Firenze. In 1738/39 Guardistallo was constituted in feudal by Francesco II and assigned with the title of Marquisate to Carlo Ginori, dignitary of the Lorenese court, with whom it remained until 1776. Following the fate of the Grand Duchy, it passed under French domination, until the Unity of Italy. In 1920 still administered by a socialist council, it strongly opposed the Fascist penetration, culminating in 1943 in a series of Partisan actions. To this activity there followed ferocious German reprisals, on 29 June 1944 with the death of 52 civilians and 11 partisans.

Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford