|  Inhabitants in 1991: 8.256
 The
municipal territory, with a surface area of 142,29 square kilometres extends
from the summit of a hill until it embraces a part of the coastal plain
and a tract of the Tyrrhenial coast. Capital of the county in the Medieval
period, it suffered in 1929 the detachment of a district which was
aggregated to the municipality of Campiglia Marittima.
Castagneto was dominion of the Counts of Gherardesca, of whom
remains the palace on the summit of the hill, and whom we find in 1161
at war with the Abbey of Monteverdi for the exploitation of certain
woods and lands fit for sowing, situated in the location of Orzale. From
the XII century it was placed under the high jurisdiction of the Pisa
republic, and became part of the Firenze territory in 1406,
who left the ancient privileges to the Lordly family until 1749. It followed
the fate of the Grand Duchy of Toscano under which it remained
except for a brief interruption of French domination (1801-1815)
until the Unity of Italy. The addition of Carducci to the name
in 1907 was in honour of the poet who had stayed there in his infancy
and who sung of it in one of this celebrated lyrics. It was aggregated
to the Livorno province in 1925
Places to visit:
The castle, it belonged to the
Gherardesca, over the centuries it was more than once remodelled and
now has the aspect of a Lord’s residence.
Palazzo Espinassi
Moratti, residence of the poet Carducci
SS Crocifisso,
1600s oratory which preserves a wooden crucifix form the 1400s. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |
