Inhabitants in 1991: 2.463
The
municipal territory of Camporgiano in the Garfagnana extends for 27,10
square kilometres at the base of the inner slopes of the Alpi Apuane,
occupying a long tract of the high valley of the river Serchio.
In Medieval times the territory of Camporgiano was a tangle of ecclesiastic
and secular domains subjected to continual aggressions and frequent
exchanges between Lucca and Pisa. In XIII century the Lucca republic
took possession of the territory and in 1272 there was the first mention
of a Lucca Vicariate at Camporgiano. This Vicariate which comprised fifty
five communities was maintained during the Lordship of Castruccio Castracani,
but during the Pisa dominion of Lucca it was relieved of forty castles,
sold in 1341 by the Marquis Spinetta Malaspina to the Fiorentini. In the
redistribution of the Gafagnana community in 1371, Camporgiano, returned
under the authority of Lucca and was reconfirmed Vicariate capital with
jurisdiction over twenty three communities. In 1434 it passed to the
Fiorentini and again to Lucca in 1441, and finally under the power of
Leonello d’Este (1446). The domination of d’Este, interrupted
in favour of Lucca in 1512 and again during the principality of Elisa
Baciocchi Bonaparte (1806-1814), remained until 1860. On that date Camporgiano
like the other Garfagnanini communities was aggregated to the province
of Massa, where it remained until 1923. Among its illustrious sons
are the historian Francesco Lemmi (1876-1947) and the scientist
Francesco Vecchiacchi (1902-1958). During the Nazi occupation Camporgiano
was chosen by the Germans for the Seat of their Special Department and
the population suffered reprisals round ups and deportations.
Places to visit: The Fort, ponderous surrounding
walls from the 1400s. The Civic Collection of Renaissance Ceramics
is hosted in one of the towers |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |