Home Cuisine Landscape and nature Architecture and art Sport Accommodation Visiting Gadget Learning Arts and Crafts The way we were Organized tours Home Cucina Paesaggio e natura Arti e Mestieri Sport Accoglienza Visitare Gadget A scuola di... Architettura e arte Come eravamo Tour organizzati
Italiano
English
Visiting
Visiting
Visita il Mugello, culla dei Medici, a due passi da Firenze e le bellezze toscane
 

Visiting Tuscany

 

 
 

Towns of the area

39 / 43

Signa

Town web Hotels Farmholidays Restaurants

Inhabitants in 1991: 14.375

The municipal territory of Signa, in Valdarno Inferiore, extends for 18,81 square kilometres in plains and hills. It takes its origins from a municipality in the Medieval era with modifications and additions. Initially separated in the municipality of Gangalandi (Lastra a Signa). Signa and Lecore in 1774 underwent a restructurisation when the community of Signa and that of Lecore were united to that of Campi, until in 1808 with a Napoleonic decree, Signa became elected a community existing by itself. A royal decree of November 1928 assigned part of the suppressed municipality of Brozzi to it.

The main centre, or Roman origin (Exinea), placed at the influx of the Bisenzio with the Arno, it was testified for the first time as castle in 978; it is to be noted that along the whole course of the Arno between Firenze and Pisa, Signa was the only centre which possessed a bridge, attested to already before the XII century as head of which on the left bank, and therefore opposite the original habitat a centre had formed, whose name (market) left no doubt as to its function (1252). Punto Nevralgico, therefore, with regard to the viability it must not be forgotten that on the bank where the market was situated passed the road to Pisa and a strategic centre of notable importance in that it was situated on the borders of the Fiorentino county and that of Pistoia. This situation was negative for Signa on some occasions, like when in 1325 Castruccio Castracani after having destroyed the bridge over the Arno set fire to the town. For the importance which we have mentioned already in 1326 the municipality of Firenze had given permission for the rebuilding of the castle (two of its gates are still visible) together with the best part of the surrounding walls. The reconstruction of the walls followed that of the bridge, and from then apart from isolated cases (a siege of 1397) the town did not suffer other damage. The economic position of Signa was prosperous and at the end of the XVIII century it was recorded as the most populated country community of the Grand Duchy. During the war the town and in particular the locality of Ponte a Signa was badly damaged and, other than destroying the bridge which was reconstructed further up stream, had 48% of its building destroyed.

Places to visit:
Castle, ancient nucleus formed before the year 1000 surrounded by the ruins of the 1300 wall which comprises also S. Maria in Castello, church already documented in 746 and remade several times over the centuries.
S. Giovanni Battista, or della Beata, in the 1400 parish church is laid the body of the blessed Giovanna da Signa. The three nave interior together with other works of art preserves the mural with the History of Blessed Giovanna carried out in two different epochs.

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

 
 
 
   
 
return to top of page
   
       
  Terra di Toscana

© All rights reserved Polimedia di Laura Fumoni
Via Landucci 39 - 50136 - Firenze - P.IVA 06790950486 - REA C.C.I.A.A. FIRENZE N. 656544
Press registration n. 5528 10/11/2006 - Editor Polimedia

 
  Advertising | About us | Contacts | Site search | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie policy