Scarperia

188 – Scarperia Born as Castel San Barnaba, the town of Scarperia changed its name following a historical and linguistic evolution: the term "Scarperia" is believed to derive from the word "scarpa," referring to a steep slope at the foot of the Apennines, and the addition of "ria" could come from the ancient adjective "ostile" in Old Italian. Another hypothesis, although less credited, linked it to the Etruscan name "Scarpius," but this theory has now been abandoned. Some have also suggested a commercial origin, related to the activity of shoemakers, but this hypothesis has never been confirmed. In 1306, after the defeat of the Ubaldini, the feudal lords of Mugello, the Council of the Hundred of the Florentine Republic decided to found a fortified citadel in a strategic position on the Bolognese road, at the foot of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, to protect Florence from attacks coming from the north. On April 20 of the same year, the act of foundation of Castel San Barnaba was thus sanctioned, honoring the saint of June 11 and the Guelph victory at Campaldino. The official foundation took place on September 7, 1306. In the early decades, the town developed around the Montaccianico Castle, destroyed in the summer of 1306, and the Palazzo del Capitano della Terra Nova, which was expanded during the fifteenth century to become an imposing Lordly Palace. In 1415, a decree of the Florentine Republic transformed Castel San Barnaba into the seat of the Vicariate, entrusted to a Vicar appointed by the Republic, who administered the village with both political and judicial functions. This new administrative role, together with a ten-year exemption from taxes and levies, favored demographic growth and the flourishing of shops, inns, and taverns. Thanks to its location along the road leading to the Giogo Pass, Scarperia became an important stopping point for those crossing the Apennines. Local craftsmanship, especially in the production of knives and cutting tools, gained an excellent reputation. In the eighteenth century, with the arrival of the Lorraine family, Scarperia experienced a rapid decline, partly due to the opening of the Futa Carriage Road in 1752, which shifted commercial traffic away from the town. During the nineteenth century, to adapt to the new situation, gates and walls limiting access to the historic center were demolished, attempting to embellish the appearance of the village. However, the economic crisis worsened in 1908 with the introduction of the Giolittian law that banned the trade and carrying of folding knives longer than the palm of the hand, severely affecting the typical craftsmanship of the town. Nevertheless, the tradition of Scarperia knives has survived to this day, thanks to the quality of materials and craftsmanship, and is now one of the main highlights of the village, still appreciated by collectors. During World War II, Scarperia was one of the Tuscan municipalities designated as a place of internment for foreign Jews and political dissidents. Among the most well-known internees were two members of a Slavic family accused of anti-Italian activities, a fervent communist, Umano Pozzoni, and a stateless Jew, Leone Smulevich, who, after September 8, 1943, found refuge in neighboring areas like Firenzuola. Today, Scarperia is recognized as one of the most beautiful Villages in Italy, a place that preserves its historical and artisanal identity, welcoming numerous visitors every year who come to admire its historic center, its traditions, and the natural beauties that surround it.

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