Poggibonsi

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Comune di Poggibonsi
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Province	Siena (SI)
Mayor	Luca Rugi (since June 13, 2004)

Elevation	116 m
Area	70 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 25, 2004)	28,647
- Density	409.1/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	43°28′N, 11°09′E
Gentilic	Bonizzesi, Poggibonsesi
Dialing code	0577
Postal code	53036
Frazioni	Staggia Senese, Bellavista
Patron	San Lucchese
- Day	April 28
Location of Poggibonsi in Italy
Website: www.poggibonsi.com

Poggibonsi is a town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, Italy. It is the main centre of the Valdelsa valley.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Twin towns
4 Popular culture
5 External links

[edit] History

The area of Poggibonsi was already settled in the Neolithic age, although the first traces of a civilization dates from Etruscan-Roman age, attested by a series of necropolises and by toponym such as "Talciona" or "Marturi" (from the Etruscan name of Mars).

Siege of Poggiobonizio by Charles I of Anjou.

The importance of the area grew only from the 10th and 12th century, thanks to its position across the Via Francigena, the main road from Rome to France. In that period began the development of Borgo di Marte (later Marturi, Borgo Vecchio and then Poggibonsi), a settlement whose previous origins are however debated. Around 1010 appeared Borgo di Camaldo. In 1155 or 1156 the inhabitants of these and other burghs in the nearby were moved by Guido Guerra, of the Guidi Counts, to a hill where a new settlement, Poggiobonizio, was set up. Declared Imperial City by emperor Frederick II, according to Giovanni Villani it was one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Poggiobonizio, which was a Ghibelline city, was destroyed by the Florentines Guelphs, with House of Anjou in 1270. Emperor Henry VII ordered a reconstruction in 1313 as Monte Imperiale, but the works didn't survive him. In 1484 Lorenzo de' Medici had a new settlement built in Poggiobonizio according to the Renaissance ideal of the "Ideal City", and protected by a fortress designed by Antonio and Giuliano da Sangallo. Works, however, were again halted in 1510.

After 1293 Poggibonsi remained under the Florentine suzerainty. After a short period under the French in the early 19th century, it became part of the unified Italy in 1861. In the 20th century the economy was boosted by the trade of the Chianti wine and an active industrialization. Also tertiary is developed.

[edit] Main sights

Palazzo Pretorio (late 13th century), with the annexed Torre del Podestà. It was the seat of the local government until the construction of the Palazzo Comunale in the 19th century. The lower floor, with a loggiatp, is made in travertine, while the upper section is in bricks and travertine stones. Since 1997 it is home to a Palaeontological Museum.
Church of San Lorenzo, built by the Augustinian order in Gothic-Romanesque style. In 1495 it was the seat of the meeting between Charles VIII of France and Girolamo Savonarola. The interior houses a precious painting by Neri di Bicci portraying St. Nicholas, a 14th century wooden crucifix by Giovanni d'Agostino and a painting of Madonna delle Grazie.
Santuario del Romituzzo, an ancient institution which was raised to sanctuary in the early 15th century to house the venerated image of Madonna of the Snow. From that period dates the bell tower and the portico.

In the neighbourhood are:

The Basilica of San Lucchese.

The Fonte delle Fate.

The castle of Staggia Senese.

The Basilica di San Lucchese, the main artistic feature of Poggibonsi, located on the hills surrounding the city. It is a large Gothic church, built around 1252 over a pre-existing small church of Sam Camaldo, traces of which can be seen in the current façade and left wall. The apse part of the chapels was built in the 14th century, while the entrance portico is from the 17th century. The interior house a terracotta of Immaculate Conception by Giovanni della Robbia, frescoes by Bartolo di Fredi, Taddeo Gaddi, Cennino Cennini and Arturo Agliardi. The remains of San Lucchese, patron saint of Poggibonsi, are housed in the eponymous chapel. The annexed convent's refectory has a noteworthy fresco by Gerino da Pistoia.
The Fonte delle Fate ("Fairies' Spring"), one of the few remains of the destroyed Poggiobonizio, dated to the early 13th century. It was discovered in 1803.
Magione of San Giovanni al Ponte, once home of the Templars and the Knights Hospitallers on the Via Francigena. The small church has a single nave ending with a noteworthy apse.
In the frazione of Staggia Senese is a notable Castle (Rocca), probably dating early from Lombard times, and belonged to the Florentine family of the Franzesi from the 13th century. A museum (known as the littlest in the world) in the village house an important work by Antonio del Pollaiolo, the Santa Maria Egiziaca, as well as other panels from the 14th-15th centuries.
Castello di Strozzavolpe ("Castel of Fox-Strangler"), an ancient fortress of the Guidi family. According to a legend, it was connected to Poggibonizio by a tunnel.
Romanesque church of of San Martino a Luco.
Church of Sant'Andrea a Palapiano, one of the most notable Romanesque edifices in the area. Although known from before the 11th century, the current edifice dates from the 13th century.
Church of Santa Maria a Talciona (12th-13th century). The portal has a notable bas-relief (1234) portraying the Adoration of the Magi.
Church of San Lorenzo in Pian de' Campi. It house a beautiful 15th century fresco by Pier Francesco Fiorentino.
Magione di Torri, a large castle of the Hospitallers built in the early 11th century.
The Romanesque Pieve of San Pietro a Cedda, at six kilometers from Poggibonsi's center. Ranked amongst the most important holy edifices in the valley, it is an abbey-like edifice ending with a noteworthy apse, and a large bell tower. Also important is the complex decoration of the portals and windows. The interior has a tabernacle attributed to Mino da Fiesole. It once housed also a 14th century triptych of the Florentine School, now in the Town Museum of Colle.