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SAN MARCELLO PISTOIESE
Located in a privileged position on a hill surrounded by
green forests, San Marcello is a charming summer resort since the
19th century. Around San Marcello you can enjoy all that the mountain
van possibly offer, from bike- or horse-back excursions, to trekking,
canoeing and wind-flying. Just take one of the trails signed out
by the CAI in the Teso forest, cross the amazing hanging bridge
over the river Lima at Mammaiano, or spend a unique night at the
Astronomical Observatory close to Gavinana.
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Apart
for the Ponte Sospeso (the Hanging Bridge), Mammaiano is worth a visit
for the castle from the period of the "Comuni" (city-states).
After the 18th century, the village became famous for the iron-work,
as the main iron mine was located here during the period of the Grand
Duchy.
At the main square of San Marcello you find the Palazzo del
Municipio, in a Neo-classic style, and some buildings which witness
the original medieval face of the village. The arcades at the square
were built at the end of the 18th century by the Grand Duke Pietro
Leopoldo, when the road Via Modenese was built. Today the square hosts
the weekly market. Also visit the Pieve di San Marcello which does
not have much left of its original medieval structure, as it was modified
in the 17th century by the Bishop Scipione de' Ricci. The church is
named after the patron of the village, Santa Celestina, a martyr whom
bones was found in the Roman catacombs and transferred to the church
of San Marcello in 1731. The celebration of the patron Santa Celestina
is carried out every year the 7th of September with a very unique
ceremony which goes hand in hand with an important event of the history
of the modern technology. The brothers Montgolfier, famous for having
invented the balloon, were friends of a noble family in San Marcello.
The locals were so enthusiastic for the invention of the two guests
who always spent some time in the village that they decided to use
the balloon in the celebration of the patron. Every 8th of September
a balloon flies over San Marcello.
From San Marcello you easily reach some nice tourist resorts,
such as Maresca, a spa-resort next to the Teso forest. At Maresca
you can visit the only Apennine iron mine from the 16th century which
is still preserved well, while there are an international folkloric
festival and a street artist festival in the summer.
Also visit Lizzano, an ancient village which from the
10th and the 14th century was the most important village of the mountain.
Unfortunately most of the public buildings which witnessed the village's
importance , such as the Palazzo Pretorio and the Pieve, where destroyed
by a big landslide in 1814. Only the Pieve was rebuilt some years
later and inside features some marvellous items from the flourishing
period, such as the Madonna con Bambino by Andrea della Robbia. The
unique wall-paintings which decorate the houses of Lizzano with scenes
from the daily life, were painted between 1985 and 1990. |
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