Empoli: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 65 - 85 Empolihotel
 This stylish contemporary hotel offers comfortable modern accommodation in a convenient location, close to the Florence-Pisa-Livorno motorway, with gr… MoreEUR 65 - 565 Borgo San Giusto
 Set in the Tuscan countryside, the Borgo offers free parking and rustic accommodation with original features like wood-beamed ceilings and wood floors… More | ||||||||||||
Empoli: Guide
''For the painter, see Jacopo da Empoli.
Empoli is a town in Tuscany, Italy, about 30 km southwest of Florence. It is situated 30 m above sea-level, to the south of the Arno River|Arno. It lies in a plain formed by the Arno River. The plain has been usable for agriculture since Ancient Rome|Roman times. The comune|commune's territory becomes a hilly one as it departs from the river. Empoli is on the main railway line from Florence to Pisa, and is the point of divergence of a line to Siena.
Empoli has an enduring tradition as an agricultural centre. It has given its name to a local variety of artichoke.
History
Archaeological finds have revealed that Empoli was already settled in the early Roman Empire times, and continued to exist until 4th century AD. The river acted as a communication way for the trade of agricultural products, together with the local amphorae. In the Tabula Peutingeriana of the 4th century Empoli is called In Portu ("in the port") as a river port on the Via Quinctia, which led from Fiesole and Florence to Pisa. Empoli was also on the Via Salaiola, connecting to Volterra's salt mills.
Since the Florentine rule. In 1260, after the Battle of Montaperti, Empoli was the seat of a famous council in which Farinata degli Uberti opposed the destruction of Florence.
Later Empoli became an important fortress, and was therefore repeatedly sacked. In 1530 its fall marked the end of the independence of the Florentine Republic.
Main sights
The Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, also known as Piazza dei Leoni ("Lions Square"), is marked in its centre by a faountain by San Miniato in Florence. The green stones were from Prato, the white ones are from Carrara: today the lower part of the original decoration remains. In 1735 the architect Ferdinando Ruggeri extensively modified the façade and the interior structure, including the ceiling. It houses noteworthy artworks including paintings by Francesco Botticini, a terracotta by Luca della Robbia, an altarpiece (1785) by Zanobi del Rosso and a triptych by Lorenzo di Bicci portraying the Madonna in Throne with Saints.
In the frazione (hamlet) of Pontorme is the house of the painter Pontormo.
Giovanni da Empoli (1483-1518), navigator
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Empoli". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
The Palazzo Ghibellino is the former palace of the Guidi counts. It was probably erected in the 11th century. In 1260 it was the seat of the Ghibelline parliament where the fate of the Florence's Guelphs was decided. In the 16th century the palace was restored, leaving little of the original structure, though.
The Palazzo Pretorio was the Town Hall in the Middle Ages. Currently it houses several activities, including an auditorium.Notable people
Jacopo Carrucci, better known as Pontormo (1494-1556), painter
Jacopo da Empoli (1551-1640), painter
Alessandro Marchetti (1633-1714), mathematician and writer
Giuseppe del Papa (1648-1735), doctor and philosopher
Ippolito Neri (1652-1708), doctor and poet
Renato Fucini (1843-1921), writer
Giuliano Vanghetti (1861-1940), orthopaedist
Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924), musician
Alberto Castellani (1884-1932), Eastern countries scholar
Mentore Maggini (1890-1941), astronomer
Remo Scappini (1908-1994), politician and anti-Fascist militant
Carlo Rovini (1932-1988), poet and writerTwinnings
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