Pietrasanta

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Comune di Pietrasanta
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Province	Lucca (LU)
Mayor	Massimo Mallegni (currently under arrest)

Elevation	14 m
Area	41 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	25,547
- Density	588/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	43°58′N, 10°14′E
Gentilic	Pietrasantini
Dialing code	0584
Postal code	55044, 55045
Frazioni	Capezzano Monte, Capriglia, Strettoia (Montiscendi), Traversagna (Pollino), Vecchiuccio, Vallecchia, Solaio, Vitoio, Castello, Valdicastello, Crociale (Ponte Rosso), Africa (Pisanica), Macelli, Osterietta, Marina di Pietrasanta (Fiumetto, Tonfano, Motrone, Focette)
Patron	Sts. Blaise and Martin

Website: www.comune.pietrasanta.lu.it

Pietrasanta is a town on the coast of northern Tuscany in Italy, in the province of Lucca. Located 3 km (1.8 miles) off the coast, Pietrasanta straddles the last foothills of the Apuan Alps. It is about 32 km north of Pisa, 1 hour from Florence and 1.5 hour from Genoa.

The Piazza in Pietrasanta.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 The patronage of artists
4 External links

[edit] History

The town has Roman origins and part of the Roman wall still exists.

The medieval town was founded in 1255 upon the preexisting "Rocca di Sala" fortress of the Lombards by Luca Guiscardo da Pietrasanta, from whom it got its name. Pietrasanta was at its height a part of the Genova city-state (1316 - 1328). The town is first mentioned in 1331 in records of Genova, when it became a part of the Luccan state along with the river port of Motrone, and was held until 1430. At that time it passed back to Genova until 1484, when the Medicis took control of Florence.

In 1494, Carlo VIII d'Angio di Francia (Charles VIII of France) took control of the town. It remained a Luccan town again until Pope Leo X gave Pietrasanta back to the Medici family.

The town suffered a long period of a decadence during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, partially due to malaria. In 1841, the Granduke of Tuscany, Leopold II di Lorena promoted several reconstruction projects (including the building of schools specially created to teach carving skills, and the reopening of the once famous quarries), which brought back much of the town's former glory.

The town then became the 'capoluogo' (capital) of the 'Vicariato di Pietrasanta', which included the towns of Forte dei Marmi, Seravezza and Stazzema (this region became the historical heart of Versilia). Finally, with the Plebiscite, the town joined the Italian Kingdom (Regno d'Italia).

[edit] Main sights

Cathedral of St. Martin (Duomo, 13th-14th centuries).
Church of Saint Augustine (15th century), in Romanesque style, now seat of art exhibitions.
The Gothic Civic Tower.
Column and Fountain of the Marzocco (16th century).
Palazzo Panichi Carli (16th century).
Palazzo Moroni (16ht century), home to the local Archaeological Museum.

[edit] The patronage of artists

The area, like most of Tuscany in general, has long enjoyed the patronage of artists. Pietrasanta grew to importance during the 15th century, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone.

Today, the sculptor Fernando Botero has a residence in the commune.