Fiesole

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Comune di Fiesole
The Roman theatre of Fiesole is still used.
The Roman theatre of Fiesole is still used.
Coat of arms of Comune di Fiesole
Municipal coat of arms

Location of Fiesole in Italy
Country Italy
Region Tuscany
Province Florence (FI)
Mayor Fabio Incatasciato
Elevation 295 m (968 ft)
Area 42 km² (16.2 sq mi)
Population (as of 2007-01-01)
 - Total 14,113
 - Density 336/km² (870/sq mi)
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 43°48′26″N 11°17′31″E / 43.80722°N 11.29194°E / 43.80722; 11.29194
Gentilic Fiesolani
Dialing code 055
Postal code 50014
Frazioni Anchetta, Caldine, Compiobbi, Ellera, Girone, Pian del Mugnone, Pian di San Bartolo, San Domenico
Patron St. Romulus
 - Day July 6
Website: www.comune.fiesole.fi.it

Fiesole is a town and comune of the province of Florence in the Italian region of Tuscany, on a famously scenic height above Florence, 8 km (5 mi) NE of that city. According to the 2003 census, its population was 14,100.

Florence as seen from Fiesole.

Contents

[edit] History

Fiesole was probably founded in the 9th-8th century BC, as it was an important member of the Etruscan confederacy, as may be seen from the remains of its ancient walls.

The first recorded mention on the town dates to 283 BC, when the town, then known as Faesulae, was conquered by the Romans. In pagan antiquity it was the seat of a famous school of augurs, and every year twelve young men were sent thither from Rome to study the art of divination. Sulla colonized it with veterans, who afterwards, under the leadership of Manlius, supported the cause of Catilina.

Fiesole was the scene of Stilicho's great victory over the Germanic hordes of the Vandals and Suevi under Radagaisus in 405. During the Gothic War (536-53) the town was several times besieged. In 539 Justinus, the Byzantine general, captured it and razed its fortifications.

It was an independent town for several centuries in the early Middle Ages, no less powerful than Florence in the valley below, and many wars arose between them; in 1010 and 1025 Fiesole was sacked by the Florentines, before it was conquered by Florence in 1125, and its leading families obliged to take up their residence in Florence.

By the 14th century, rich Florentines had countryside villas in Fiesole, and one of them is the setting of the frame narrative of the Decameron. Robert Browning also mentions "sober pleasant Fiesole" several times in his poem, Andrea del Sarto.

[edit] Main sights

  • Remnants of Etruscan walls.
  • Roman baths.
  • Roman theatre.
  • Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) of the 14th century.
  • The cathedral of Fiesole (Il Duomo), containing the shrine of St. Romulus, martyr, according to legend the first Bishop of Fiesole, and that of his martyred companions, also the shrine of St. Donatus of Fiesole.
  • The Badia or ancient cathedral of St. Romulus, built in 1028 by Bishop Jacopo Bavaro with materials taken from several older edifices, at the foot of the hill on which Fiesole stands, supposed to cover the site of the martyrdom of St. Romulus; it contains notable sculptures by Mino da Fiesole. The old cathedral became a Benedictine abbey, which passed into the hands of the regular canons of Lateran. It once possessed a valuable library, long since dispersed. The abbey was closed in 1778.
  • The room in the bishop's palace where St. Andrew Corsini lived and died.
The cathedral of Fiesole.
Arches near the Roman theatre.
San Francesco monastery
  • The little church of the Primerana in the cathedral square, where the same saint was warned by Our Lady of his approaching death. Built in 996 and further expanded in medieval times, has maintained the Gothic presbytery from that period. It received a new façade in the late 16th century, with graffito decoration by Ludovico Buti. The interior, on a single hall, has a 13th century panel portraying Madonna with Child. In the transept are two marble bas-reliefs by Francesco da Sangallo, and a terracotta from Andrea della Robbia's workshop.
  • The church of S. Alessandro, with the shrine of St. Alexander, bishop and martyr.
  • The monastery of S. Francesco on the crest of the hill, with the cells of St. Bernardine of Siena and seven Franciscan Beati.
  • San Girolamo, the home of Venerable Carlo dei Conti Guidi, founder of the Hieronymites of Fiesole (1360).
  • San Domenico, the novice-home of Fra Angelico da Fiesole and of St. Antoninus of Florence.
  • Fontanelle, a villa near S. Domenico, where St. Aloysius came to live in the hot summer months, when a page at the court of Grand Duke Francesco de' Medici.
  • Villa Medici in Fiesole.
  • Villa Le Balze
  • Villa Palmieri
  • Villa Schifanoia.
  • Fonte Lucente, where a miraculous crucifix is greatly revered.
  • Castello de Vincegliata

In the neighbourhood are:

  • Monte Senario, the cradle of the Servite Order, where its seven holy founders lived in great austerity and were cheered at their death by the songs of angels
  • S. Martino di Mensola, with the body of St. Andrew, an Irish saint, still incorrupt.

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] Twin towns

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gertrude Stein, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, New York City: The Bodeley Head, Reprint: London: Penguin Classic, 2001, p. 96
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[edit] External links


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Tuscany · Comuni of the Province of Florence
Tuscany Province of Florence

Coordinates: 43°48′26″N 11°17′31″E / 43.80722°N 11.29194°E / 43.80722; 11.29194

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