Scandicci
Discovering Scandicci: a town near Florence
Hello everyone! Today I will talk about Scandicci, a beautiful town in Tuscany, located west of Florence. With its 49,804 inhabitants, it is one of the most populated towns in the metropolitan city of Florence and has a greater urban continuity with the capital.
The beauty of the territory
Scandicci has an area of 59.59 km² that extends from the Arno river to the north, to the Pesa valley to the southwest. The territory is surrounded by greenery of forests, hills, and some parks. Through Scandicci and several fractions, the Vingone stream runs. Although Scandicci has grown a lot over the years, the settlement is still on the border of the municipality of Florence.
The history of Scandicci
Scandicci was first mentioned in a document of the 10th century in which the Marchesa Willa of Tuscia donates to the Abbey of Florence the castle of Scandicci and the churches of Santa Maria a Greve, San Martino, and Santa Mina. Over the years, Scandicci has undergone many transformations since the original commune was the fusion of the territories of the municipalities of Casellina and Torri. In 1833, some territories were taken from Scandicci in favor of the municipality of Lastra a Signa. The population at that time amounted to 9,360 inhabitants. Over the years, some localities have been added to the municipality, including District 4 of Florence-Mantignano, the Church of San Martino alla Palma, the Church of San Colombano a Settimo, Sollicciano, Querciola, La Romola, Granatieri, and Pian de' Cerri.
Curiosities about the town
Scandicci is also known as "Casellina e Torri" until 1929. Interestingly, the town hall was located in Florence, first in Palazzo Corsi-Albizi, in via dell'Oriuolo, and then in Palazzo Uguccioni. In addition, in 1860, the inhabitants were called upon to express themselves in a plebiscite on the adherence or not to the Kingdom of Sardinia. There were 9,579 inhabitants, but only 1,857 had the right to vote. Surprisingly, 1,774 expressed themselves in favor of the annexation.
What to see and do
Scandicci offers many tourist attractions. There are many points of cultural interest, such as churches and squares. You could visit, for example, the church of San Martino, on the hill of Scandicci. You can admire the artworks set up inside the church, including the painting "Birth of the Virgin" by Neri di Bicci from 1450 and that of "Resurrected Christ" by Agnolo Bronzino. Or you could take a stroll in Piazza Matteotti, the beating heart of the town. In the evening, the square comes alive with a hobbyist market and a series of events and shows. You can't miss the Teatro Comunale, inaugurated in 2006, which offers a wide choice of cultural events. If you love nature, you can enjoy a walk in a park, such as the Parco della Resistenza, with its breathtaking panoramic view of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan countryside.
What to eat
In addition to the cultural and landscape beauty of Scandicci, there is also a great choice of restaurants and bars where you can taste traditional Tuscan dishes. Tuscan food is famous all over the world for its simplicity and quality. You could try the ribollita, a vegetable and bread soup, or the fiorentina steak, accompanied by a glass of Chianti wine. Alternatively, you can try homemade Tuscan bread, lasagna, stuffed ravioli, and for dessert, cantuccini with vinsanto.
Conclusions
If you are looking for an authentic Tuscan experience, Scandicci is the right place to go. The town offers a wide range of tourist attractions, from churches to parks, from theaters to restaurants serving traditional Tuscan food. Scandicci is a special place that captures the spirit and charm of Tuscany.
