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Inhabitants in 1991: 7.698
 The
municipal territory of San Marcello Pistoiese, in the high Val di Lima,
extends for 84.75 square kilometres from the crest of the Tosco-Emiliano
Appennino (Corno alle Scale) to the plains of the valley dug out by the
river Limestre. Feudal centre, then free municipality, then Seat of
Captaincy of the Mountain (alternating with Cutigliano), constituted
in community with the Leopoldine reforms, it reached its present day
aspect in 1979 with the detachment of an uninhabited area aggregated
to Cutigliano.
The origins of the major centre, demonstrated by the finding of a
burial ground of the Imperial era, goes back to Roman times. Conceded
by Arrigo VI in feudal to Count Guido Guerra in 1191 and confirmed
to him with the definition of fortified court, by two Imperial certificates
by Federico II in the first half of the 1200s; it became free municipality
of explicit Ghibelline tendency, welcoming firstly the outgoing Pistoiesi
captained by Arrigo Tedici (1293) and subsequently the militia of Castuccio
Castracani (1323). Strongly involved in the encounters during the XIV
century between the Pistoiesi camps of Cancellieri and Panciatichi, it
became, with the confirmation of the latter, the Seat of the Captaincy
of the Mountain, the new magistrature wanted by Pistoia in 1368 (which
alternately resided for six months of the year also a Cutigliano). Occupied
subsequently by the Cancellieri with the help of the Visconti troops (1400),
after the definitive submission to Pistoia and its county (1401) it
entered under the protection of Firenze. The district of Gavinana
is tied to the memory of the celebrated episode of the death of Francesco
Ferrucci, General Commissioner of War of the Fiorentina republic, killed
in 1530 by Maramaldo, head of the Imperial militia of Carlo V.
Places to visit:
S. Marcello, XII century church,
the interior remodelled in XVIII century hosts precious works of art. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |
