Inhabitants in 1991: 10.410
Situated
in the Pisana plain on the right of the river Serchio, the municipal territory
of Vecchiano extends for 67,27 square kilometres comprising also the pinewood
of Migliarino and a strip of coastline. It became autonomous municipality
in 1810 detaching itself, with four other districts from San Giuliano.
Inhabited from the remotest time, as attests various archaeological
finds, Vecchiano is recorded for the first time in a document from
762. Before the year one thousand, it seems it was a land with two
churches and relative possessions, derived from private donations and
those of the Bishop of Lucca. Placed under the government of the Pisa
republic which made it a castle on the borders with the Lucca territory,
it was repeatedly the theatre of military action and of armed encounters
between Pisa and Lucca, who were contending the dominion. In 1345
it was besieged and damaged by the troops of Luchino Visconti, and
from this episode it seems arose the destruction of the surrounding walls
and, at least in part, of the watch tower, some ten years or so later
re-adapted as bell tower. It remained under the dominion of Pisa until
the defeat of that city by the Fiorentino army, in 1406. From that
date it followed the affairs of Firenze until the Unity of Italy.
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |