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Vicopisano

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Inhabitants in 1991: 7.584

The municipal territory extends for 26,92 square kilometres in the Valdarno Pisano, at the extreme south eastern spur of Monte Pisano, on a hill and its underlying plain. Autonomous community Leopoldina, suffered two territorial reductions: in 1867 with the separation of the districts of Buti and Cascine, constituted in autonomous municipality with the name of Buti, and in 1894 with the separation of Montemagno aggregated to Calci.

Probably of Roman origin, in the VIII century Vicopisano resulted as being included in the Ecclesiastic jurisdiction of the Bishop of Pisa. Transformed into castle, in 1129 it passed temporarily, following an act of donation, under the power, of as Association Pisana, An important fortress dominating an obligatory point of passage on the border with the republics of Lucca and Firenze, it was the object of repeated assaults and attempts to conquer it often failing thanks to the natural defence constituted by the Arno (which at that time lapped at the feet of the hills on which it was built) and by the imposing fortification with which it was surrounded. Notwithstanding the expansionistic aims of Lucca and the brief periods of occupation by the Guelfo army commanded by Count Ugolino della Gherardesca in 1275, and that of Giovanni Visconit of Milano in 1343, it remained wholly in the possession of Pisa until 1406. On that date, after a long siege of which remain as testimony the frescoes of Vasari, it surrendered to Firenze shortly before the capitulation of Pisa.

Its importance as a fortress was confirmed by the fact that the Fiorentini, not only did not destroy the fortifications as had happened with the other conquered castles, but they enlarged them using the project genius Filippo Brunelleschi. Apart from brief rebellions in 1494 and 1530, it remained under the Fiorentino dominion until the Unity of Italy, as Vicariate Seat of the Valley of the Arno and the Serchio. Under the Mediceo principality of Cosimo I and Francesco I the surrounding plains were drained with the rectification of the Arno and the construction of a mass of canal ways, perfected in 1763 with the opening of the Imperial Canal and a tunnel under the Arno. During the second world war it suffered a block of every activity for the evacuation of the population and the devastation following the German occupation. It is the birthplace of the Domenican man of letters Domenico Cavalca (c.1270-1343)

Places to visit:
The Tower, it is among the characteristic elements of the city’s townscape. Erected at the same time as the various fortifications, such as: the Torre del Mastio, the Torre dell’Orologio (1300) the Torre delle Quattro Porte connected by a communicating trench to
the Torre del Soccorso.
Palazzo Pretorio, 1300s it shows coats of arms in stone and terracotta glass.
S.Maria and S. Giovanni, this very ancient parish church is an interesting example of Romanic Pisana architecture. The three nave interior in Basilical plan preserves a precious group of wooden statues and a Baptismal font from 1400.

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


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