Santa Fiora

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Comunesantafiora.gif
img_coa_small=yes
official_name = Comune di Santa Fiora
name = Santa Fiora
region = Tuscany
province = Grosseto (GR)
elevation_m = 687
area_total_km2 = 62.9
population_as_of = Dec. 2004
population_total = 2821
population_density_km2 = 45
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|50|N|11|36|E|type:city(2,821)_region:IT
frazioni = Bagnolo, Bagnore, Marroneto, Selva
telephone = 0564
postalcode = 58037
gentilic = Santafioresi
saint = Sts. Flore and Lucille
day = july 29
mayor = Renzo Verdi
website = [http://www.comune.santafiora.gr.it/ www.comune.santafiora.gr.it]
mapy = 11.6036
mapx = 42.8381

Santa Fiora is a "comune" (municipality) in the Province of Grosseto, in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about 110 km southeast of Florence and about 40 km east of Grosseto. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,821 and an area of 62.9 km².All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.] Santa Fiora borders the following municipalities: Abbadia San Salvatore, Arcidosso, Castel del Piano, Castell'Azzara, Piancastagnaio, Roccalbegna, Semproniano.

History

Santa Fiora is mentioned for the first time in 890 AD, in a document listing properties of the Abbey of San Salvatore. By the eleventh century the lords of Santa Fiore were the Aldobrandeschi who, in 1082, started the construction of a castle here ("Castello S. Flore") and walled the "borgo". The power of the abbey passed by degrees to the Aldobrandeschi "conti di San Fire", and in turn to the hegemony in Lower Tuscany of the commune of Siena, which was in control of Santa Fiore by the mid fourteenth century, a future already foreseen by Dante: "et vedrai Santafior com'è oscura", "and you shall see how obscure is Santa Fiore" ("Purgatorio", canto V). In 1493, with the marriage of Cecilia Aldobrandeschi and Bosio Sforza, the castello and its town passed to the Sforza.

The Sforza of Santa Fiora reached their highest point of power with count Guido Sforza di Santa Fiora, who managed to establish himself as a relative of Pope Paul III Farnese, thereby gaining prestigious political positions for his relatives. Later the family was represented by the Cesarini Sforza, they however decayed from the 17th century onwards, until the territory of Santa Fiora was annaexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by Leopold II.

The comune was of importance for its mineral wealth in Monte Amiata of cinnabar, from which mercury is derived.

Main sights

*The imposing "Palazzo Sforza Cesarini", built in 1575 over the Aldobrandeschi Castle (of which two medieval towers can be still seen).
*Church of St. Joseph
*Church of Misericordy
*Church of St. Augustine
*Church of St. Claire
*Church of Sts. Flore and Lucille
*Convent of "Santissima trinità alla Selva", outside the town
*Museum of mercury mines of Monte Amiata

Demographic evolution

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References

External links

* [http://www.comune.santafiora.gr.it/ www.comune.santafiora.gr.it/]