Premium Featured Accommodation

History of Castelfiorentino near Florence in Tuscany

The name Castelfiorentino was documented in 1149, when the castle was under the jurisdiction of the bishops of Florence. The emphasis on being Florentine is owed to its frontier position. Invane, the feudal pretentions of the Alberti Counts were opposed by Red Beard (1164) and by Ottone IV (1210).

In Castelfiorentino in 1197, there was a gathering of the Guelfs from Florence, Lucca, Siena, San Miniato and Volterra to contrast the Swabian threat. The comunity desired autonomy: the Florentine prelates went as far as excommunication in 1218, but Castelfiorentino gained its own podestà in 1252.

Peace was ratified there between Florence and Siena, after being involved in fighting between the two, which culminated in the defeat of the Guelfs at Montaperti (1260).

Around the first half of the 13th century, the castle was put under the guardianship of Florence and was the location of a meeting between Charles VIII of Angiò and Savonarola.

Owing to its links to Florence, the village was the object of raids: to be remembered are the passages of the Spaniards (1529-1531) and the misfortunes during the war of Siena (1555-57), let alone, over two centuries later, the violence of the troups of the Cisalpine Republic (1799).

Articles