Inhabitants in 1991: 2.248
The
municipal territory of Bagnone extends for 73,79 square kilometres in
the high Lunigiana, in an essentially mountainous area. It had its
origins as a castle and became Vicariate Seat under Firenze in the XV
century; it reached its present day aspect in 1894 when the district
of Orturano was joined to it, having previously been part of the municipality
of Villafranca.
The first documented note of Bagnone, erected as a castle overlooking
the ancient village of Gutula, which it eventually encompassed, goes
back to 1124. Ancient possession of the Malaspina, inherited
by the branch of the so called dello Spino Fiorito (1220), and under these
remained until 1339 when the, not huge, territory was divided in three
distinct Marquisates, Bagnone, Treschietto and Castiglione. Apart
from the second half of the XIV century Bagnone, for various and complex
events, became part of, and under the protective interest of, the Fiorentina
republic. A peoples revolt against the Marquis Cristiano (1471)
ended by forcing the latter to cede the community definitively to Firenze
for the sum of 6,000 ducats, despite the opposing attempts of the
Duke of Milano. Bagnone remained in the Grand Duchy of Toscana until 1796
when it was aggregated to the Luguria republic, from whom it soon became
broken up to be included in the district of the Appennini. After the Restoration
it was annexed to the Duchy of Parma where it remained until 1859.
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |