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SOME HISTORY
Since the Etruscans, the road Via dei Setteponti which guaranteed
the connection between the powerful lucumonies of Arezzo and Fiesole,
had an important role for the development of the commercial settlements
of the Pratomagno.
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La
Setteponti increased its importance during the Roman period as the
road system improved and became even more safer. Le Setteponti thus
guaranteed the communication with the rest of the world, impeding
that the inhabitants of the Pratomagno became completely isolated.
The vitality of the local inhabitants is witnessed by the exploiting
of the area, which lead to the building of both civil and religious
architectonic masterpieces, which can still be seen today. Each metre
of the Pratomagno documents the vital relationship between man and
nature and the hard work of the inhabitants who have extracted the
available resources from the mountain. The energy from the rivers
was used to grist the wheat, spin the wool and make the foundries
work where the tools necessary for the carpenters were produced.
In the Late Middle Ages the Pratomagno got its actual architecture,
when the first fortified settlements were raised on the plateaux and
from here expanded the medieval feuds. Castiglion Fibocchi, Pian di
Scò and Loro Ciuffena were founded when Italy was invaded by
the Longobards, when the arrival of the Barbarians produced a depopulation
and a decline in almost the whole Italy. The Romanesque churches along
the main roads became the natural social, political and economical
meeting point after the Roman period. The building of "Spedali"
to host pilgrims and travellers, castles and inns in the following
centuries did not cease and was not affected by the depopulation and
the deep crisis.
During the Middle Ages, the influence of Arezzo and Florence
alternated in the Pratomagno until the area was completely governed
by the Medici family. The municipalities in Le Setteponti distinguished
themselves for the local management of the territory under the Medici
family. The skilled way of keeping the roads, the mills and the waterworks
efficient gave lots of money and a certain independence from the central
power in Florence. The Medici family encouraged the regulation of
the water and in particular the water of the river Arno in the 16th
century in order to avoid floods.
During the 17th century the fortified fortresses were transformed
into residential settlements and the towns continued to grow, while
the most important architects and engineers of that time took care
of the maintenance of the roads such as the Setteponti road, over
which two new bridges were built. During the 18th century the valley
was retrieved and drained in order to exploited. The Grand Duke of
Tuscany also wanted to reactivate the old Via Cassia, to increase
the commercial activities of the Pratomagno with the rest of Italy.
In the 19th century the agriculture developed even more though the
period under Napoleon was characterised by less attention to the water
supplies and the area experienced several floods.
The next historical upswing of the Pratomagno coincides with
the unification of Italy and the industrialisation of the Valdarno
and its surroundings. The industrialisation contributed to a demographic
boom, which lead to a major control of the area. The increase of activities
such as the breeding and the agriculture together with the industrialisation
and the growing of the towns lead to an expansion of the historical
centres of the Pratomagno and an immigration towards the towns in
the valley. During WWII the strategic roads of the Pratomagno were
used by the partisans to organise an efficient resistance, but the
Germans committed several massacres to guarantee the control of the
roads. After the war the Pratomagno witnessed an industrial expansion
of the area around the Valdarno, partly increasing its own industrial
activity, partly providing workers to the factories of the Valdarno.
From the 50’s the area experienced a massive exodus from the
mountain villages, especially among the young people.
The emigration did not take away the traditions, such as the
growing of excellent products and the working of iron and wood. The
special relationship which man has always established with the mountain,
has contributed to the continuos and intelligent management and protection
of the territory. The area has not been nor over-exploited or abandoned.
The tourists of today will thus find a preserved landscape, as well
as preserved sites such as la Setteponti, the historical villages
and religious buildings. |
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