Pontassieve

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Pontassieve-Stemma.gif
official_name = Comune di Pontassieve
name = Pontassieve
region = Tuscany
province = Province of Florence (FI)
elevation_m = 108
area_total_km2 = 114.4
population_as_of = 2004-12-31
population_total = 20581
population_density_km2 = 180
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|43|46|N|11|25|E|type:city(20,581)_region:IT
frazioni = Acone, Colognole, Doccia, Le Falle, Le Sieci, Fornello, Lubaco, Madonna del Sasso, Molino del Piano, Montebonello, Monteloro, Monterifrassine, Petroio, Podere Prato, San Martino, San Martino a Quona, Santa Brigida
telephone = 055
postalcode = 50065 Pontassieve, 50060 Cusio, 50060 Molino del Piano, 50060 Santa Brigida, 50069 Sieci (Le Sieci), 50065 Pontassieve (altre frazioni)
gentilic = Pontassievesi
saint =
day =
mayor = Marco Mairaghi (since June 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.pontassieve.fi.it/ www.comune.pontassieve.fi.it/]
mapy = 11.4292
mapx = 43.7744

Pontassieve is a "comune" (municipality) in the Province of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 14 km east of Florence, nearby Fiesole, at the confluence of the Arno and Sieve rivers. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 20,581 and an area of 114.4 km².All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.]

The territory of Pontassieve borders the following municipalities: Bagno a Ripoli, Borgo San Lorenzo, Dicomano, Fiesole, Pelago, Rignano sull'Arno, Rufina, Vicchio.

History

The first dominators of the territory were the Quona nobles, whose Lordship is documented from the XI century. These, a branch of whom at a later date also appeared under the name of Filicaia, urbanised themselves in Firenze at the end of the XII century and in 1207 sold a large part of its territory of jurisdiction to the Fiorentino Episcopate.

The village of Pontassieve formed and consolidated under the Florentine domination. In 1375 Firenze decreed the erection of a castle for an essentially strategic use on the land of Pontassieve. First the town took the name of "Castel Sant’Angelo" (Saint Angel Castle) and then it took its actual name referring to the importance of the bridge on the river, that was the main way joining the Republic of Florence to the territories of the Mugello, Casentino and the city of Arezzo.

The first houses of the village had spontaneously built up around the bridge, which were then developed becoming a village which was situated lower in respect to the castle built by the Fiorentini. The population carried out just the cultivation of foods to supply itself because Pontassieve was considered by the Florentines just a military stronghold of the Republic, so that Florence did not promoted its economic growing.

At the end of the XVIII-th century the coming of the Lorena’s Dukes to the power gave a great impulse to the town economy. Thanks to the Ducal works for the reclamation of the territory and the opening of two new roads that joined Pontassieve to the Casentino and the Emilia Romagna, Pontassieve had a remarkable economic growing.

Under the Lorena’s domination Pontassieve reached a great importance so that the town was elevated to the rank of Vicarship’s Town Hall comprising part of the territories belonging to the Arno and Sieve valleys.

In 1859 the building of a railway that joined Florence to Rome gave an additional impulse to the economic growing. The construction of this important railway and later the contrution of also the Florence-Borgo San Lorenzo railway allowed the city to grow also as an industrial hub.

In 1861 Pontassieve was annexed to the Reign of Italy by the King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoia.

During the second world war Pontassieve, for its importance as a rail junction, suffered substantial da
Allied planes remaining destroyed almost entirely and its present day aspect is due, for the most part, to the post war reconstruction. Even though, the town has kept it's original medieval look in the city center.

Economy

The economy of the town is based on the industrial activities in the fields of food, mechanic and electronic industries, and on the manufacture of glass and pottery. Flourishing is also the artisan manufacture of leathers and remarkable are the productions of the "Vino Chianti Putto" and of a very valuable oil.

Among the several celebrations periodically taking place in Pontassieve we remind here the traditional "Toscanello d'oro" held yearly on May. The celebration consists of a show-market where it is possible to taste and buy valuable local wines and typical courses of Pontassieve.

Churches

Chiesa di Sant'Eustachio ad Acone

Also referred to as "Sant'Eustachio in Jerusalem", used to be the mother church of the vast Acone parish.

Chiesa di Santa Maria ad Acone

It's foundation dates to, 925. Protectors of the church were, among many, the Donati family and the San Matteo Hospital in Florence.

Chiesa di Sant'Andrea a Doccia

Mentioned for the first time in 1024 in official vatican papers by bishop Ildebrando. In the document it is refeered to as being propery of the San Miniato al Monte monastery .

Pieve di San Giovanni a Rèmole

Dating to 955 , was head of a parish extending on both sides of the Arno river.

Pieve dei Santi Gervasio e Martino a Lobaco

The old church, dedicated to San Gervasio is located in Alpiniano, and dates back to the XI century.

antuario della Madonna delle Grazie (della Madonna del Sasso)

This sanctuary is also know as "Madonna del Sasso" because of a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1484. The building has been erected in 1490 and it took the place of a medieval oratory.

Chiesa di San Martino a Molin del Piano

First documented in the XIII century . Ruled by the bishop of Fiesole and the Saltarelli family.

Pieve di San Lorenzo a Montefiesole

Existing since 1190 but transormed into parish in 1461 , it lies next to the ruins of the castle belonging to the bishop of Florence, who ruled these lands.

Prepositura di San Michele Arcangelo

The church of Sant'Angelo a Sieve was so called till the XVII century when it took the name of San Michele, is is documented since the beginning of the XIII century . Completely redone in the XVIII century, it was consecrated in 1788.

Chiesa dei Santi Martino e Giusto a Quona

Originally dedicated to San Martino, later called San Giusto after the first church was demolished.

Chiesa di Santa Brigida (Pontassieve)

Built, according to tradition, on the cave chosen by the saint for meditation in the X century , has been enlarged throughout the centuries XVI|XVI and XVII|XVII and deeply restored and modified in 1938 and 1954.

Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista a Monteloro

Documented since 1102, the small building lies next to the ruins of the homonymous castle, since the IX century feud of the Fiesole bishop.

Villa Martelli

The former summer villa of the Martelli family lies in Gricigliano in the "località" of Sieci. It has been converted into a seminary of The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (Institutum Christi Regis Summi Sacerdotis) and of Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest. [cite web|url=http://www.institute-christ-king.org/ourSeminary.html|title=Our Seminary|publisher=Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest|accessdate=2008-06-01]

Demographics

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References

External links

* [http://www.comune.pontassieve.fi.it/ www.comune.pontassieve.fi.it/]