San Piero a Sieve

San Piero a Sieve, a historic village in the heart of Mugello, has a history intertwined with the events of Tuscany since ancient times. The oldest traces of human presence date back to the Middle Paleolithic, with findings of flint stone tools in locations such as Lucigliano, Toro, and Le Mozzete. However, it is the presence of the Etruscans that marks a crucial moment, with discoveries like the archaic tomb of Mozzete and a well-dug necropolis in the Monti area, dating back to the 7th century BC. The subsequent Roman domination left indelible marks, including place names and other artifacts that testify to the colonization of the area. In the Middle Ages, the village developed as a crucial road junction, located along the ancient road crossing the Apennines, a strategic point for trade and exchanges between Florence and Bologna. The first urban settlement, which formed around the ancient bridge over the Sieve and the parish church of San Pietro, was named Villa Sevae in 1105, later becoming San Piero a Sieve definitively in 1117. The village was initially under the control of the powerful Ubaldini family before passing under the dominion of the Florentine Republic. The strategic importance of San Piero a Sieve as a transit point and livestock market favored its economic and social development. During the Medici period, the village experienced a phase of expansion, becoming a significant center under the protection of the Medici. The Medicis also promoted the construction of a masonry bridge over the Sieve, consolidating San Piero's role as a stopover for travelers and merchants. Medici policy also led to the creation of hospitals and facilities for pilgrim accommodation. The Renaissance period marked the peak of prestige for the village, with the construction of villas and economic support that allowed the development of activities such as the pottery factory, which became very famous. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, San Piero a Sieve allied with Giovanni de' Medici during the siege of Scarperia and became the capital of the Tagliaferro league, unifying the surrounding territories. However, over the following centuries, the village experienced periods of decline, especially from the late 15th century, with the Medicis' lack of interest and subsequent subjection to the Vicariate of Scarperia. The construction of the Medici fortress in 1569 marked a recovery, followed by a long period of stagnation during the rule of the Habsburg-Lorraine and the French in the 17th century. Only with the return of the Lorraines and the construction of new roads, such as the Muraglione and Futa, did San Piero a Sieve experience a new phase of economic and social growth. The 19th century saw the village reborn thanks to the construction of the railway station, which favored trade and the transit of people and goods. Figures like Count Luigi Guglielmo Cambray-Digny, who contributed to the agricultural development of Mugello, and the doctor Pietro Cipriani, who distinguished himself during the Risorgimento, left an indelible mark on local history. In the 20th century, San Piero a Sieve also experienced the effects of world conflicts, with the active participation of the community in the Resistance and the controversial figure of Francesco Giunta, a fascist hierarch.

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