Pietrasanta
Encyclopedia
Pietrasanta is a town and comune
on the coast of northern Tuscany
in Italy
, in the province of Lucca
. Pietrasanta is part of Versilia
, on the last foothills of the Apuan Alps, about 32 km north of Pisa
. The town is located 3 km off the coast (where the frazione of Marina di Pietrasanta is located).
The Pietrasanta Marina, with golden sand and luxorios equipments is considered one of the best beaches of Italy.
origins and part of the Roman wall still exists.
The medieval town was founded in 1255 upon the preexisting "Rocca di Sala" fortress of the Lombards
by Luca Guiscardo da Pietrasanta, from whom it got its name. Pietrasanta was at its height a part of the Republic of Genoa
(1316–1328). The town is first mentioned in 1331 in records of Genoa, when it became a part of the Lucca
along with the river port of Motrone, and was held until 1430. At that time it passed back to Genoa until 1484, when it was annexed to the Medici held seigniory of Florence
.
In 1494, Charles VIII of France
took control of the town. It remained a Luccan town again until Pope Leo X
, a member of the Medici family, gave Pietrasanta back to his family.
The town suffered a long period of decline during the 17th and 18th centuries, partially due to malaria
. In 1841, Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany
promoted several reconstruction projects (including the building of schools specially created to teach carving skills, and the reopening of the once famous quarries).
The town then became the capital of the Vicariato di Pietrasanta, which included the towns of Forte dei Marmi, Seravezza and Stazzema (this region became the historical heart of Versilia). The town joined the newly-unified Italian Kingdom in 1861.
. Michelangelo
was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone.
Today, the Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero
, the Dutch-born sculptor Hanneke Beaumont
, the Danish sculptor Jens Flemming Sørensen as well as the Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj
and Polish F1 driver Robert Kubica
have residences in the comune.
Composer, conductor and concert pianist Cesare Galeotti
, best known for his opera's Anton and Dorisse, was born in Pietrasanta on 5 June 1872.
, Belgium Grenzach-Wyhlen
, Germany Villeparisis
, France Zduńska Wola
, Poland Montgomery
, Alabama Utsunomiya, Japan
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:...
on the coast of northern Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
in 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...
, 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...
. Pietrasanta is part of Versilia
Versilia
The Versilia is a part of Tuscany in the north-western province of Lucca, and is named after the Versilia river.Known for fashionable Riviera resorts, it consists of numerous clubs that are frequented by local celebrities....
, on the last foothills of the Apuan Alps, about 32 km north of Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
. The town is located 3 km off the coast (where the frazione of Marina di Pietrasanta is located).
The Pietrasanta Marina, with golden sand and luxorios equipments is considered one of the best beaches of Italy.
History
The town has RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
origins and part of the Roman wall still exists.
The medieval town was founded in 1255 upon the preexisting "Rocca di Sala" fortress of the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
by Luca Guiscardo da Pietrasanta, from whom it got its name. Pietrasanta was at its height a part of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
(1316–1328). The town is first mentioned in 1331 in records of Genoa, when it became a part of the Lucca
Republic of Lucca
The 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...
along with the river port of Motrone, and was held until 1430. At that time it passed back to Genoa until 1484, when it was annexed to the Medici held seigniory of Florence
History of Florence
Florence is a major historical city in Italy, distinguished as one of the most outstanding economical, cultural, political and artistic centres in the peninsula from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance.-Prehistoric evidence:...
.
In 1494, Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
took control of the town. It remained a Luccan town again until Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
, a member of the Medici family, gave Pietrasanta back to his family.
The town suffered a long period of decline during the 17th and 18th centuries, partially due to malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. In 1841, Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany
Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Leopold II of Tuscany was the last reigning grand duke of Tuscany ....
promoted several reconstruction projects (including the building of schools specially created to teach carving skills, and the reopening of the once famous quarries).
The town then became the capital of the Vicariato di Pietrasanta, which included the towns of Forte dei Marmi, Seravezza and Stazzema (this region became the historical heart of Versilia). The town joined the newly-unified Italian Kingdom in 1861.
Main sights
- Cathedral of St. MartinPietrasanta Cathedral220px|thumb|View of the Duomo by night.thumb|220px|High altar.Pietrasanta Cathedral is a church in Pietrasanta, Tuscany, northern Italy...
(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...
, 13th-14th centuries). - Church of Saint Augustine (15th century), in RomanesqueRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style, now seat of art exhibitions. It includes some remains of 14th-15th centuries frescoes. - The Gothic Civic Tower.
- Column and Fountain of the Marzocco (16th century).
- Palazzo Panichi Carli (16th century).
- Palazzo Moroni (16ht century), home to the local Archaeological Museum.
Culture
The area, like most of Tuscany in general, has long enjoyed the patronage of artists. Pietrasanta grew to importance during the 15th century, mainly due to its connection with marbleMarble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone.
Today, the Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero
Fernando Botero
Fernando Botero Angulo is a Colombian figurative artist. His works feature a figurative style, called by some "Boterismo", which gives them an unmistakable identity...
, the Dutch-born sculptor Hanneke Beaumont
Hanneke Beaumont
Hanneke Beaumont is a Dutch-born sculptor.She studied dentistry in the United States, but moved back to Europe, to Belgium, where she still lives today. Beaumont started her artistic studies in 1977 at the Académie de Braine l'Alleud, then at La Cambre and in Anderlecht; she received her first...
, the Danish sculptor Jens Flemming Sørensen as well as the Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj
Igor Mitoraj
Igor Mitoraj is a Polish artist born in Oederan, Germany.-Biography:He studied painting at the Kraków School of Art and at the Kraków Academy of Art under Tadeusz Kantor. After graduating, he had several joint exhibitions, and held his first solo exhibition in 1967 at the Krzysztofory Gallery in...
and Polish F1 driver Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica
Robert Józef Kubica is the first Polish racing driver to compete in Formula One. Between 2006 and 2009 he drove for the BMW Sauber F1 team, promoted from test driver to race driver during 2006...
have residences in the comune.
Composer, conductor and concert pianist Cesare Galeotti
Cesare Galeotti
Cesare Galeotti was an Italian composer, conductor, and concert pianist. He is best known for his opera Anton which he conducted at its highly lauded premiere at La Scala on 17 February 1900...
, best known for his opera's Anton and Dorisse, was born in Pietrasanta on 5 June 1872.
Sister cities
Pietrasanta is twinned with ÉcaussinnesEcaussinnes
Écaussinnes is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Écaussinnes had a total population of 9,924. The total area is 34.77 km² which gives a population density of 285 inhabitants per km²....
, Belgium Grenzach-Wyhlen
Grenzach-Wyhlen
Grenzach-Wyhlen is a municipality in the district of Lörrach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, 7 km east of Basel, and 8 km south of Lörrach. It has borders to Inzlingen and Rheinfelden and Riehen , Birsfelden and Kaiseraugst in...
, Germany Villeparisis
Villeparisis
Villeparisis is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris from the centre.-Transportation:...
, France Zduńska Wola
Zdunska Wola
Zduńska Wola is a town in central Poland with 44,671 inhabitants .Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , previously in Sieradz Voivodeship . It is the seat of Zduńska Wola County.- Famous people from Zduńska Wola :...
, Poland Montgomery
Montgomery
-In France:* Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery, a commune in département Calvados, Normandy* Saint-Germain-de-Montgommery, idem* Colleville-Montgomery, idem-In Pakistan:...
, Alabama Utsunomiya, Japan
External links
- Official website
- Pietrasanta Portal
- Video Introduction to Pietrasanta
- Downtown accommodation
- Ask for the Pietrasanta newsletter (English issue) about Marble, Art and Tourism