- Castiglione di Garfagnana
Castiglione di Garfagnana is a city of 1,878 inhabitants in the
province of Lucca .The city is rinomate for the bandFilarmonica Alpina , founded in 1858 with the name of "Fanfara popolare".Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Castiglione_di_Garfagnana-Stemma.png
region =Toscana
province = Lucca (LU)
elevation_m = 545
area_total_km2 = 48
population_as_of =
population_total = 1877
population_density_km2 = 39
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|44|09|N|10|25|E
frazioni = Boccaia, Campori, Casone di Profecchia, Cerageto, Chiazza, Col d'Arciana, Filippe, Isola, Massasassorosso, Pagaia, Passo Radici, Pian di Cerreto, Mozzanella, Pozzatelle, Prunaccio, San Pellegrino in Alpe, Valbona
telephone = 0583
postalcode = 55033
gentilic = Castiglionesi
saint = Madonna del Carmine
day =July 16
mayor = Francesco Giuntini (since June 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.castiglione-di-garfagnana.lu.it Castiglione di Garfagnana]History
The origin of the city dates back to a Roman "castra", called "Castrum Leonis", ("Lion's Castle"), built to command the valley leading to the San Pellegrino Pass, the easiest transit for armies of Apennines. The fortress later developed under the Lombard and Frank dominations.
In 1170 it was besieged by the Republic of
Lucca . Castiglione surrendered, but the high taxes led the city to form a league with others communes ofGarfagnana againstLucca .In 1227 Castiglione was again besieged and suffered further destruction by the
Lucca 's soldiers. Political contrasts continued in the following years, until a peace was stipulated in 1371:Lucca gained definitive control of Castiglione, and established a permanent administrator. The defensive structure was upgraded building with the widening of the town-walls.During the 15th century Castiglione was one of the few communities in
Garfagnana that did not submit to theEste family, remaining loyal to the Republic ofLucca . Throughout the wars against Estensi, the fortress was again besieged, in particular in 1603 and 1613. It followed a long period of peace, marred only by controversies for boundary questions with the neighbouring communes.The
Congress of Vienna (1815) assigned Castiglione to Marie Louise of Bourbon, Grand Duchess ofLucca , who in 1819 gave it toFrancis IV of Modena .Main sights
Castiglione's most striking attraction is the Medieval bridge, built by Spinetta Malaspina in the 13th century. The city is also famous for its well-preserved 13th-century medieval walls with large towers (the Torrioni) and the Rocca ("Castle").
The church of San Pietro was erected in 723 by two Lombard brothers, Aurinand and Gudifrid, but was largely rebuilt in the 12th century by Bishop Guido III of Lucca. San Michele (14th century) is the other main holy edifice of the town. Both churches use wall towers as their belfries.
The Church of San Pellegrino (in the omonymous fraction), site at 1,400 m and commanding the valley of the
Serchio river, houses the mortal remains of St. Pellegrino and St. Bianco.Transportation
External links
* [http://www.geocities.com/castiglionegarf/castiglionegarf/pianta.htm 3D plant of the city]
* [http://www.garfagnana.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=40 www.garfagnana.it]
* [http://www.ingarfagnana.it Garfagnana landscape]
* [http://www.fototoscana.it/mostra-gallery.asp?nomegallery=castiglionegarfagnana images of Castiglione di Garfagnana]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
