San Baronto

Small but appreciated tourist locality in which to spend, far from traffic, smog and noise, a pleasant, peaceful and relaxing holiday , in an attractive natural environment rich in vegetation, with woods surrounding the built-up area. Situated at 349 mt. above sea level San Baronto historically expanded around the church, which was a convent until the 18th century , and that therefore has represented the heart, the attraction centre of the community. Being placed along the important pass of Montalbano, San Baronto is really a terrace from which it is possible to dominate a large part of the surrounding plain. And in summer, also from the small towns of surrounding plains, people come frequently here to enjoy the cool breeze, the pure air, and the peace which seem to be the essential characteristics of the place, also known for the bicycle races . An other characteristic of San Baronto is constituted from the fact to be the birthplace of many good and higly regarded cooks.

Papiano

About the origin of the toponym have been made various suppositios; according to the linguist Silvio Pieri the name could derive from a Latin gens, the Gens Porcia . The name of this locality would derive from a Roman condottiere , Porzio (Porcius), become lord of these lands obtained probably as a reward from an emperor, or simply as purchase from his family. According to the expert Guido Cerboni the name would have been attributed to this locality from the Counts Guidi, rich and powerful lords coming from Casentino who,it seems, extended ,between the 10th century and the 11th century, their dominion on this area of Montalbano too. Perhaps struck by the likeness between the landscape of these hills and that of the heights surrounding Stia and Pratovecchio, wanted to repeat here the name of two feuds of Casentino, Porciano and Papiano. Finally according to an other theory Porciano in origin would have been called Querciano or Querceto and such name would have underlined the wooded and wild appearance of the zone. Historically Porciano is mentioned, as hamlet of Lamporecchio, in the Liber Focorum of 1226. We must say that some informations about Porciano are not proved by historical documents like, for example, the conviction that Porciano would belong to the possessions of the Counts Guidi.

Porciano

On the origin and meaning of the toponym they have also been made numerous very distant hypotheses among them, according to the linguist Silvio Pieri the name Porciano could derive from a Latin gens, the Gens Porcia, to further confirmation of an ancient installation of numerous Roman families. The name of this place would derive from a Roman commander, Porzio (anciently Porcius), become authoritative gentleman of these earths probably gotten as reward and prize from an emperor, or more simply, following these earths' purchase from his/her family. Other hypothesis sustained by the researcher Guido Cerboni the name Porciano would have been attributed to this place by the Accounts you Drive, rich and powerful gentlemen coming from the Casentino that, it seems, they extended, above all among the X and the XI century, their dominion also in this zone of the Montalbano. Perhaps struck by the similarity between the landscape of these hills and that of the high ground that surround Coop and Pratovecchio, they wanted to reply here the name of two them feuds casentinesi, Porciano and Papiano. Finally according to another theory Porciano in origin would have called Querciano or Oak and man name you/he/she would clearly have underlined the I wait woody and wild of the zone. Historically Porciano is remembered, as fraction of the rural Commune of Lamporecchio, in the 1226 Liber Focorum. There is to say that some news related to Porciano is not born by suitable historical documents: for instance, in lack of certain documents, we cannot affirm that it was situated really in this zone that Villa de Runcho that was recognized to the Bishop of Pistoia, with 988 imperial diploma, from Brass III. And after all, also the traditional and rooted conviction that Porciano has belonged to the possessiones of the Accounts you Drive, although not unlikely, you/he/she is not comforted by some document. Sull' origin and meaning of the toponimo have also been made numerous very distant hypotheses among them, according to the linguist Silvio Pieri the name Porciano could derive from a Latin gens, the Gens Porcia, to further confirmation of an ancient installation of numerous Roman families. The name of this place would derive from a Roman commander, Porzio (anciently Porcius), become authoritative gentleman of these earths probably gotten as reward and prize from an emperor, or more simply, subsequently to the I purchase of these earths from his/her family. Other hypothesis sustained by the researcher Guido Cerboni the name Porciano would have been attributed to this place by the Accounts you Drive, rich and powerful gentlemen coming from the Casentino that, it seems, they extended, above all among the X and the XI century, their dominion also in this zone of the Montalbano. Perhaps struck by the similarity between the landscape of these hills and that of the high ground that surround Coop and Pratovecchio, they wanted to reply here the name of two them feuds casentinesi, Porciano and Papiano. Finally according to a' other theory Porciano in origin would have called Querciano or Oak and man name you/he/she would clearly have underlined the I wait woody and wild of the zone. Historically Porciano is remembered, as fraction of the rural Commune of Lamporecchio, in the 1226 Liber Focorum. There is to say that some news related to Porciano is not born by suitable historical documents: for instance, in lack of certain documents, we cannot affirm that it was situated really in this zone that Villa de Runcho that was recognized to the Bishop of Pistoia, with 988 imperial diploma, from Brass III. And after all, also the traditional and rooted conviction that Porciano has belonged to the possessiones of the Accounts you Drive, although not unlikely, you/he/she is not comforted by some document.

Orbignano

Orbignano is the original name of this locality , in fact it is already mentioned in the 8th century, as proves the written document of the donation of a olive grove to "Urbignanum" in 779 by the Longobard Aufuns to the convent of San Bartolomeo . Besides there are documents attesting that between 957 and 981 the Cathedral Presbytery of Pistoia let a house of its property situated in " locus qui dicitur Orbignano ". The " Villa de Urbiniano " was recognized from Bono, Bishop of Pistoia, with diploma of Emperor Enrico VI dated October 1196, but we know that in the following years Orbignano, with other localities of the zone (for example Lamporecchio),was long contended between the Clergy and the Commune of Pistoia. Around the half of the 8th century Orbignano appeared as rural commune subdued to Pistoia, but for the nomination of the Podestą was still necessary the authorization of the Bishop of Pistoia. In 1351 Orbignano, like also Lamporecchio, became property of Florence.

Faro di Livorno

This lightouse was built in 1304 after that a previous light existing since 1154 and located near Porto Pisano, a little far North, built to mark out the many dangerous shoals at its entrance had been abandoned because the small harbour started to be covered with sand. The new location was more suitable. Livorno, is now and was in the past a very important harbour both for passengers and merchandises, is located on the Tuscany coasts of Central Italy, on the Mediterranean sea. The new tower, erected using local natural stones, is made of two embattled cylinders for a total heigh of 47 meters, it has 11 floors reachable by a spiral staicase, cut in the thickness of the inside wall itself. On the top of its lantern there is a rotating optics giving out four white lamps every 20 seconds that can be seen at 24 miles. It is possible yo have a better view of the tower from the sea because, being the lighhthouse located on the extreme edge of the harbour, it cannot be properly seen from the land. In 1944, during WWII, the lighthouse was completely destroyed by the withdrawing German forces and rebuilt in 1956 for a will of the whole population, following the original design and using for the outside facing as many original stones as possible. This lighthouse has been standing for many centuries and it is one of the oldest existing on the Italian coasts still in use. Recently it has been declared a national monument.