Montecuccoli

Montecuccoli is a small village located in the municipality of Barberino di Mugello. It is situated in a picturesque position, perched on a hill at 638 meters above sea level, between the Calvana mountains and the border with the Val Bisenzio. The toponym "Montecuccoli" probably derives from "monte" (mount) and the Latin term "cuculus" (cuckoo), possibly referring to the shape of the hill or the presence of these birds in the area. However, the name could also be linked to a local noble family or an ancient feudal possession. In the 18th century, Montecuccoli was located near one of the customs of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which regulated the transit of goods and people between Tuscany and the County of Vernio. This highlights the historical role of the village as a passage and control point along the Apennine routes. During World War II, the area of Montecuccoli was involved in the fighting along the Gothic Line. American military documents report that in September 1944 the area was the scene of clashes between Allied troops and the retreating German army. In the preceding centuries, the village was inhabited by farmers and small artisans, linked to the management of the lands and woods in the area. Montecuccoli is known for having been crossed by Giuseppe Garibaldi during his escape, known as the Tuscan Route, after the fall of the Roman Republic in 1849. After the death of his wife Anita and with Austrian troops on his heels, on August 26, 1849, Garibaldi, accompanied by the faithful Giuseppe Cavicchi, a tenant of the Marquis Torrigiani, passed through Montecuccoli on his way from Santa Sofia towards the Tyrrhenian coast. The escape took place at night, choosing secondary roads to avoid being detected. A plaque, in Via Mezzana, 3, still commemorates his stop in the village today.

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