Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Encyclopedia
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is a town and comune
in the province of Lucca
, Toscana, central Italy
. It is located at rises at the confluence of the Serchio
and the Turrite Secca river, close to the intersection among the roads passing through the Apennine Mountains
and the Apuane Alps.
The local economy is mainly based on the production of cereals and on the activity of numerous chemical and textile industries.
From the 13th century Castelnuovo di Garfagnana developed as a market town for its close position to rivers along which important trading activities took place. Later, in the 14th century, it developed under the jurisdiction of the city of Lucca.
Since 1316 the control of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana was given to Castruccio Castracani
, who made a bridge built in order to join the castle to the village.
At the beginning of the 15th century the inhabitants of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana rebelled to the domination of Lucca, putting themselves in 1430 under the protection of the Estensi family of Ferrara
. Under the Este control, the village gaiend in importance by becoming first seat of Vicar
ship and then by building imposing religious buildings such as the actual Cathedral.
In 1512 the town was occupied by the troops led by Francesco della Rovere, Duke of Urbino
, and few years later it was conquered by the Republic of Florence
, holding this latter the control of the town just for few years. In the following years the Estensi came again to the power; their domination lasted up to the invasion of the territory by the French army led by Napoleon Bonaparte.
During the French domination, Castelnuovo became part of the Cisalpine Republic
, including this latter the territories of the Apuane Alps.
After the collapse of the Napoleonic Empire, in 1814 it was given back to the Estensi who ruled it until the Unification of Italy in 1861.
, Italy Marciana
, Italy
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Lucca
Province of Lucca
The Province of Lucca is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lucca.It has an area of 1,773 km², and a total population of 372,244...
, Toscana, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is located at rises at the confluence of the Serchio
Serchio
At 126 kilometres the Serchio is the third longest river in the Italian region of Tuscany, coming after the Arno and the Ombrone...
and the Turrite Secca river, close to the intersection among the roads passing through the Apennine Mountains
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
and the Apuane Alps.
The local economy is mainly based on the production of cereals and on the activity of numerous chemical and textile industries.
History
The locality is quoted for the first time in an official document dating back to the 8th century with the name of "Castro Novo" (new fortified settlement).From the 13th century Castelnuovo di Garfagnana developed as a market town for its close position to rivers along which important trading activities took place. Later, in the 14th century, it developed under the jurisdiction of the city of Lucca.
Since 1316 the control of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana was given to Castruccio Castracani
Castruccio Castracani
Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli was an Italian condottiero and duke of Lucca.-Biography:Castruccio was born in Lucca, a member of the noble family of Antelminelli, of the Ghibelline party. In 1300 he was exiled with his parents and others of their faction by the Guelphs "Black" party,...
, who made a bridge built in order to join the castle to the village.
At the beginning of the 15th century the inhabitants of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana rebelled to the domination of Lucca, putting themselves in 1430 under the protection of the Estensi family of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
. Under the Este control, the village gaiend in importance by becoming first seat of Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
ship and then by building imposing religious buildings such as the actual Cathedral.
In 1512 the town was occupied by the troops led by Francesco della Rovere, Duke of Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
, and few years later it was conquered by the Republic of Florence
Republic of Florence
The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
, holding this latter the control of the town just for few years. In the following years the Estensi came again to the power; their domination lasted up to the invasion of the territory by the French army led by Napoleon Bonaparte.
During the French domination, Castelnuovo became part of the Cisalpine Republic
Cisalpine Republic
The Cisalpine Republic was a French client republic in Northern Italy that lasted from 1797 to 1802.-Birth:After the Battle of Lodi in May 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte proceeded to organize two states: one to the south of the Po River, the Cispadane Republic, and one to the north, the Transpadane...
, including this latter the territories of the Apuane Alps.
After the collapse of the Napoleonic Empire, in 1814 it was given back to the Estensi who ruled it until the Unification of Italy in 1861.
Main sights
- The Rocca Ariostesca (Ariosto's Castle), dating to the 12th century and enlarged by Castruccio Castracani in the following one. It takes its name from the Italian poet, who resided here in 1522-1525 when he was governor of the Garfagnana for the House of Este. It is now home to an archaeological museum.
- the DuomoDuomoDuomo is a term for a cathedral church. The formal word for a church that is presently a cathedral is cattedrale; a Duomo may be either a present or a former cathedral . Some, like the Duomo of Monza, have never been cathedrals, although old and important...
(Cathedral) of Sts. Peter and Paul, erected in the 16th century. The façade is in Renaissance style, while the interior is Baroque. It includes a terracotta attributed to Andrea del VerrocchioAndrea del VerrocchioAndrea del Verrocchio , born Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' Cioni, was an Italian sculptor, goldsmith and painter who worked at the court of Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence in the early renaissance. Few paintings are attributed to him with certainty, but a number of important painters were...
and a canvas by Domenico GhirlandaioDomenico GhirlandaioDomenico Ghirlandaio was an Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Among his many apprentices was Michelangelo.-Early years:Ghirlandaio's full name is given as Domenico di Tommaso di Currado di Doffo Bigordi...
depicting the Madonna with Saints. - the CapuchinsOrder of Friars Minor CapuchinThe Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
' Convent - Fortress of Monte Alfonso, built in the late 16th century by the Estensi as their last stronghold before the Republic of LuccaRepublic of LuccaThe Republic of Lucca was an ancient State of Tuscany which lasted from 1160 to 1805.After the death of Matilda of Tuscany, the city of Lucca began to constitute itself an independent commune, with a charter in 1160. For almost 500 years, Lucca remained an independent republic...
- Giardino Montano dell'Orecchiella, a nature park and botanical gardenBotanical gardenA botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
Twin towns
DroneroDronero
Dronero is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Cuneo at the entrance of the Valle Maira.-Main sights:...
, Italy Marciana
Marciana
Marciana is a town and comune in the province of Livorno, Tuscany , located in the western Elba Island....
, Italy