Montopoli In Val D'arno
Montopoli in Val d'Arno rises on the back of a hill tuff between watercourses dell'Egola and Chiecina including the Arno river that passes in the most northern. The past Castle Montopoli must be sought in the history of the Parish of St. Peter in Mosciano active since 746. We could say that the inhabitants of Montopoli in the past were the inhabitants of 924 in Mosciano when Bishop Pietro di Lucca for premunire incursions by the inhabitants of Hungarians and Avars, forced them to move into the fort or Cassero of Montopoli, which he did Especially build. What Montopoli is one of the most beautiful castles and more important Valdarno lower, as defined by Boccaccio A Castle for its mighty fortifications. It was prey to many achievements because of its excellent geographical location, the first contention from Pisa, Florence and Lucca. In 1222, after defeating the Pisans in Castel del Bosco, the Florentine imposed restitution of the castle to the bishop of Lucca. The Pisans were again defeated by the Florentines in Pontedera but after a period of peace created new conflicts: in 1274 John Visconti, powerful citizen Guelph Pisa, Florence and ally with Lucchesi laid siege to the Montopoli; again in 1315 Montopoli suffered from an invasion Uguccione of Faggiola, lord of Pisa and Lucca. A source of continuous sieges came under the domain Florentine. Were other impressive fortifications built in San Roman, a defense digging a deep ditch and a mighty tower called Torre del Fosso. These fortifications proved truly providential when on June 1, 1432 the army of Filippo Maria Visconti he clashed with the army led by Florentine Nicholas of Tolentino with the victory of Florence. In 1494 the territory was dominated by Charles VIII.