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Towns of the area

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Quarrata

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Inhabitants in 1991: 21.020

The municipal territory of Quarrata extends for 46 square kilometres from the north eastern slopes of Monte Albano to the plains which are watered by the river Ombrone. Originally being part of the Podesta office of the Grand Duchy of Tizzana, modified in 1775 and 1838, in 1880 Quarrata became capital of the municipality, which continued nevertheless to call itself Tizzana until 1959.

Probably of Roman origins, the first mention of Quarrata goes back to 997 in a certificate of Ottone III; already in this era the area was under the Lordship of the Cadolingian Counts and the Episcopate of Pistoia. In the XII century it was the Seat of an important public meeting place and of a hospital for pilgrims, in the 1300s Quarrata was capital of a vast community, strongly tied to Pistoia and in particular to the Pistoiese Taviani family patrons of the parish church and land owners. The Castle of Tizzana, even though presumably of a more bygone era, was nominated for the first time only in 1252 when it was besieged by the Fiorentini in war against Pistoia; ceded in 1306 to Firenze, it passed again under the Lords of Pistoia in 1314 to then entered definitively as part of the Fiorentina republic in 1351. From then until 1838 there was a Podesta in Tizzana.

Places to visit:
Villa Medicea della Màgia, a little way outside the township, it was originally a little fort, which Buontalenti transformed into a country residence for the Grand Duke Francesco I.

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


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