Stignano
Discovering Stignano, a beautiful Italian hamlet
Hello friends, today I'll take you on a journey to discover Stignano, a hamlet of the Italian municipality of Buggiano, in the province of Pistoia, in Tuscany. Are you ready to embark on a journey through the history and beauty of this small village?
The History of Stignano
According to legend, Stignano has its origins in the Goths, but actually the toponym may have a land origin. After being owned by the Lombards, the village came under the control of the lords "da Maona", who held many properties in the area. Later it became a free commune dependent on Lucca, until it was incorporated into the municipality of Buggiano in 1238, following its fortunes in the following centuries.
Stignano suffered numerous raids during the wars between Tuscan cities, and in 1430 its walls were destroyed by soldiers of Francesco Sforza, who came here to support Lucca in the fight with Florence for dominion over Valdinievole.
But Stignano is also the birthplace of Coluccio Salutati, a famous jurist, politician and writer, and one of the fathers of Humanism.
Monuments and Places of Interest
The village has an elongated shape, which develops on a ridge overlooking the road connecting Florence and Lucca. The ancient walls can be seen along the perimeter, incorporated into the houses.
Porta Roma is the only driveway access to the village to the southeast, and from here the main road starts. The Folavento Gate, to the north, was open towards the countryside.
On the irregularly shaped main square, stands the Church of Sant'Andrea, built between the 10th and 11th centuries and then turned around until it assumed its current appearance. The church has a baptismal font from 1387 and was erected as a parish church in 1624; on the north side stands the squat bell tower. Next to the church is the oratory of San Michele, the seat of the ancient Confraternity of Mercy.
On the southern side of the square is the building that, according to tradition, was the birthplace of Coluccio Salutati, as recalled by the two marble plaques in the center of the facade.
Notes
Bibliography
Here are some suggested books to deepen your knowledge of this beautiful hamlet:
- Andreini Galli Nori, ''La grande Valdinievole'', Baglioni, Berner & associates, 1970.
- Ornella Casazza (edited by), ''La Valdinievole - la storia, l'architettura, l'arte delle città e del territorio'', Mondadori, 1999.
Related Voices
Here you can find more interesting information about the surrounding area of Stignano, like the municipality of Buggiano and its surroundings.
Other Projects
Here, instead, you can find some useful links to deepen your discovery of Stignano and the surrounding area.
Here is the fascinating village of Stignano, a small pearl of Tuscany that is worth visiting to immerse yourself in the history and art of this place.
