Aulla

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Aulla-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Aulla
region = Tuscany
province = Massa-Carrara
elevation_m = 64
area_total_km2 = 59
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 10175
population_density_km2 =172
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|44|13|N|09|58|E
frazioni =
telephone = 0187
postalcode = 54011
gentilic = Aullesi
saint = Saint Caprasio
day =
mayor = Roberto Simoncini (since June 2004)
website = http://www.comuni-italiani.it/045/001/

Aulla is a commune in the province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany (Italy) with a population of 10,175.

History

Traces of Roman and Etruscan civilizations found in the Church of Saint Caprisio indicate that there were settlements in Aulla long before the eighth century CE, when Adalberto of Tuscany founded a village and castle to accommodate pilgrims traveling the via Francigena. [Dr. Geo Pistarino, "Una fonte medievale falsa e il suo presunto autore" (University of Genoa, 1958) demonstrated in detail that the notorious "cartulary of Aulla", supposedly drawn up at the end of the thirteenth century, was in fact a forgery by Alfonso Ceccarelli, who was executed for other forgeries in 1583.] Here, at "Aguilla" Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, on his journey home from Rome about 990. [F. P. Magoun, Jr., "The Italian Itinerary of Philip II (Philippe-Auguste) in the Year 1191" "Speculum" 17.3 (July 1942;367-376) p. 373. Magoun notes that Philip Augustus of France may have stopped here on his more leisurely northward journey in 1191, but the possibly corresponding entry in his itinerary is unclear.] The Malaspina family wrested feudal power of the city and its "contada" from the domination of the bishops and dukes of Luni. In 1543, the Centurione family purchased it. The Centurione built the Fortress Brunella, which was bought in the early 20th century by Lina Watterfield, and remains privately owned, functioning as a museum of natural history for the Lunigiana region.

In 1943 the historic center of Aulla was destroyed by Anglo-American bombings aimed at German troups stationed there during the Second World War.

Notes

External links

* [http://toscana.indettaglio.it/eng/comuni/ms/aulla/aulla.html Information on Aulla]