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 Inhabitants
in 1991 : 6,740
Cavriglia extends for 60.91square kilometres in Valdarno Superore occupying
the slopes of Monti del Chianti and a terraced plateau on the left bank
of the Arno . It had community rights since 1774 but reached in
present configuration in 1811, when it incorporated all the “popoli”
(masses) who had been part of the Lega d’Avane, previously associated
to the community of San Giovanni Valdarno, to whom the same Cavriglia
previously belonged.
Cavriglia, settlement with confirmed Roman origins (it seems almost
certain that its territory was in ancient times probably crossed by the
road which unites this part of Valdarno to the Val di Greve), mentions
of it are found from the first years of the XI century in certain papers
relative to the donation of houses, courts, land and estates positioned
in the parish of San Giovanni at Cavriglia, made by members of the
Firidolfi-Ricasoli to the Coltibuono and Passignano Abbeys ;
and these Lords of noble birth continued to maintain a prominent role
upon Cavriglia for centuries. An aggressively aware union among the
workers of the brown coal mines of Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni brought victory
to the socialist united front in the administrative elections of 1920.
The democratic forces were severely repressed during the following twenty
years and the inhabitants of this zone during the Nazi occupation underwent
violent reprisals culminating in July 1944 with the massacre of more than
two hundred civilians between Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni and Meleto :
for this the Standard of Cavriglia was decorated with the bronze Military
Valour medal.
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford
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