- Impruneta
Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Impruneta-Stemma.gif
name=Impruneta
mapx=43.67
mapy=11.25
official_name = Comune di Impruneta
region =Toscana
province = Florence (FI)
elevation_m = 275
area_total_km2 = 48
population_as_of =December 31 ,2004
population_total = 14682
population_density_km2 = 304
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|43|41|N|11|15|E
frazioni = Bagnolo, Quintole, Le Rose, Pozzolatico, Mezzomonte, Baruffi, Tavarnuzze
telephone = 055
postalcode = 50023
gentilic =Imprunetini
saint =St. Luke the Evangelist
day =October 16
mayor = Ida Beneforti Gigli (sinceMay 25 ,2003 )
website = [http://www.comune.impruneta.fi.it www.comune.impruneta.fi.it]Impruneta is a town and "
comune " of theprovince of Florence in the Italian region ofTuscany . The population is about 15,000.Main sights
The most important feature of Impruneta is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria. The basilica dates from 1060, being probably located over an ancient devotional site of Etruscan times (6th century BC). It was an important site of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages.
The basilica was bombed during
World War II and now few of the original decorations can be seen. The façade is preceded by a portico byGherardo Silvani (1634), built by the Florentine people as vow for the liberation from the plague, and by a bell tower from the 13th century. The interior has a single nave; artworks include a "Nativity" byDomenico Passignano and a "Vocation of St. Peter" byJacopo da Empoli . The presbitery is flakned by two niches byMichelozzo decorated byLuca della Robbia , housing the relics of the Holy Cross and the Madonna's image to which the sanctuary is devoted and, which, according the tradition, was painted by St. Luke himself.The museum connected to the basilica is home to one of the oldest known pieces of European patchwork, the so-called Impruneta Cushion, dating from the late 14th or early 15th centuries. The cushion belonged to Bishop
Antonio degli Agli , priest in charge of Santa Maria dell'Impruneta from 1439 to his death in 1477, and was found in his tomb after the church was damaged by an Allied bomb in 1944.The current Madonna's image is a heavy restoration by
Ignazio Hugford from 1758.The town's Saint is St. Luc and the saint's feast day (18th. Oct) is the highlight of a week-long festival with a Palio featuring Horse Racing a carnival and fireworks
External links
* [http://www.impruneta.com/ Impruneta, Basilica of Santa Maria, Terracotta] it icon en icon fr icon de icon
* [http://www.chiantimusei.it/ Basilica of Santa Maria and its Treasure Museum Official Website]
* [http://www.fabbricaimpruneta.it/ Official Tourist Website] it icon en icon
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