The origins of San Miniato date back to the Etruscan-Roman times is testified by the remains of the necropolis of Fontevivo, gravestones, marble sculptures, bronzes and mosaics from excavations in area resurfaced Montecalenne and Motappio.
Colonized by the legionaries of Augustus, was then a military station under the name "Quarter", but only after the invasion of the Lombards, became a village. They, in 783, there cotruirono a church dedicated to the martyr San Miniato, from which later took the name of the city.
The castle was built in 962 by Emperor Otto I, who will serve as a forum of Imperial Vicar, with jurisdiction over the whole Tuscany. Was also the residence of those Marchesi, including Boniface, Marquis and vicar of the emperor, the father of the Countess Matilda, born in San Miniato, it seems, in 1406.
Alemanni various emperors visited the city and there they stayed, dwelling Paòlagio imperialism (now Bishop): Frederick Barbarossa was there in 1167 and 1178, Henry IV in 1184, 1186 and 1194; Otto IV in 1209.
As well as emperors, San Miniato also had the honor of hosting three popes, namely Gregory V in 996, Eugene IV in 1434 and Clement VII in 1523.
In 1211 Sal 'the hill of San Miniato San Francesco d'Assisi, returning from Pisa, and founded the historical and monumental convent.
In the Middle Ages, the village, the Ghibellines, he obtained numerous privileges by Emperor Frederick II, who had also built, around 1236, a complex of fortifications, the castle, where, according to historians, was improgionato and died of the Pier Vigne chancellor of Frederick.
From the twelfth century, San Miniato began to be governed by their own magistrates and was involved in the fights broke out between the neighboring cities. Fallen power Ghibellines of Pisa (1284), which had supported the city, the San Miniato were later subdued by Charles of Anjou, whose domain is revolted to establish themselves as a free commune, joining (1291) of the alloy Guelph until they were absorbed into the Renaissance Florentine Republic.
But even this revolted in 1370 and in 1396. The city suffered two assaults by the Florentines and third in 1530 by Charles V of Spain, commanded by the Duke of Amalfi. They occupied the city on 1 February 1530, but were driven back on 1 November that year by Francesco Ferrucci, and hoist the flag on the tower again, lily of the Florentine Republic. When, under Charles V, the City fell Giglio, San Miniato was submitted to the Duke Alessandro de 'Medici and later went to join the Grand Ducal government. Under the Grand Dukes, with the powerful family of Griffins, was one of the most important cities of Tuscany Medici.
In 1620 Maria Magdalena of Austria, wife of Cosimo II, obtained by the husband conssnso that San Miniato was called by Pope Gregory XV City and authorize affiché the city became a bishopric.
On June 28, 1797 Napoleon I. came to visit his uncle in San Miniato Canon Philip and his house held a council of war. After giving his contribution to the War of Independence, San Miniato in 1860 became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
The age of the Savoy monarchy at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century without major spending significant facts: Situated halfway between Florence and Pisa, the city lives with posting events that characterize these years.
In 1925, following the consolidation of the province of Livorno, San Miniato, along with other neighboring municipalities, is assigned to the province of Pisa. At that time, it is still a predominantly agricultural town with more than 60% of the population engaged in that sector, while in cities operate a commercial middle class, many professionals and employees in the service sector (Cassa di Risparmio, hospitals, schools etc. ... ).
World War II severely affects the city destroyed or seriously damaged more than 50% of the homes, sparing not even the oldest and prestigious monuments, like the rock Frederick.
In July 1944, San Miniato was crossed by the front and multiplied incidents of clashes and conflicts between the partisan and the Germans who controlled the city.
Among these events that surely is the most tragic massacre carried out on the morning of July 22, 1944 in the Cathedral, where, ahead of the clash with the Americans who were preparing to occupy the city, the Germans had channeled most of the remaining population city.
In the gunfire that followed a grenade into the church by striking the first column on the right, near the altar, killing over 50 people. The incident was mentioned in the film "The Night of San Lorenzo, San Miniato directors Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.
The film takes its title, among other things, by a tragic clash between partisans and the Germans took place in the countryside around San Miniato August 10, 1944.
After the war began the slow and arduous work of reconstruction in all areas of social, economic and cultural. The Institute of Popular Drama, founded in 1947 with the program plays to represent a high spiritual content, is the proof so emblematic of this strong desire for rebirth.
The Repetti called San Miniato "seedbed of famous men and famous intellects in all ages and in all series." In fact the characters are distinguished from bound: in San Miniato were born Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, the Captain of Baron Mangiadori who commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Florentine Campaldino junior naturalist Michele Mercati, the painter Ludovico Cardi said Cigoli, the chemical Gioacchino Taddei, the philosopher Augusto Conti, the poet Pietro Bagnoli, Professor Rondoni scientist and an outstanding teacher. Even Borromeo of Milan and of Corsica Buonaparte descended from noble families Sanminiatese. |
