Arcidosso

Arcidosso is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Florence and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Grosseto and near the town of Montalcino.

Arcidosso
Comune
Comune di Arcidosso
Coat of arms
Location of Arcidosso
Arcidosso
Location of Arcidosso in Italy
Arcidosso
Arcidosso (Tuscany)
Coordinates: 42°52′N 11°32′E
CountryItaly
RegionTuscany
ProvinceGrosseto (GR)
FrazioniBagnoli, Macchie, Montelaterone, Salaiola, San Lorenzo, Stribugliano, Zancona
Government
 • MayorJacopo Marini
Area
 • Total93.26 km2 (36.01 sq mi)
Elevation
679 m (2,228 ft)
Population
 (30 April 2017)[2]
 • Total4,281
 • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Arcidossìni
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
58031
Dialing code0564
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The first certain documentation of the existence of the settlement of Arcidosso is from the year 860, when it is said to belong to the Abbey of San Salvatore. In 1331, Guidoriccio da Fogliano besieged it for four months with an army of 4,000 soldiers and 400 horsemen, until it surrendered. After the fall of the Republic of Siena in 1556, it passed under the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Cosimo I de' Medici established many outlying offices here.

Following the Leopoldina Reformation of 1786, there was a remarkable population increase and the number of Arcidosso's citizens quadrupled in about 100 years. Arcidosso thus became historically the most important political and administrative center in the Monte Amiata area.

Main sights

Aldobrandeschi castle

The construction of the first nucleus of the castle, around which the town would develop, dates from about the year 1000. From the 12th to the 14th centuries it was a stronghold of the Aldobrandeschi and a bulwark against invasion of the Amiata territory by Siena. The north side of the complex is characterized by a tower that rises beyond the roof of the highest building in the compound. The top of the tower is crowned by a series of blind arches resting on shelves. The fortress, recently restored, is used today as a space for cultural activities. From the top of the tower there is a splendid panorama of Mount Amiata.

Historic centre

The historic centre of Arcidosso, one of the most striking in Amiata, develops in a long pyramid shape along the plateau dominated by the castle. Only three gates of the old medieval walls remain, of which two are original – the Porta di Castello, and the Porta Talassese which faces towards the sea. From here, going down towards Codaccio, is the Porta dell’Orologio, built in 1851 to replace the Porta di Mezzo.

Other buildings

Arcidosso has several medieval churches, most notably the church of the Madonna dell'Incoronata, where pilgrims journeyed to pray for the end of the great plague; the church of San Niccolò, patron saint of Arcidosso, and the church of San Leonardo. These churches contain medieval frescoes, paintings and icons. Local legend has it that Merlin, the enchanter associated with the Arthurian cycle, lived in a cave in San Lorenzo, a village between Arcidosso and neighbouring Castel del Piano.

Frazioni

The municipality is formed by the municipal seat of Arcidosso and the villages (frazioni) of Bagnoli, Montelaterone, Le Macchie, Salaiola, San Lorenzo, Stribugliano and Zancona.

Government

List of mayors
Mayor Term start Term end Party
Wanda Bosco 1965 1970
Luigi Franceschelli 1970 1975
Marcello Bianchini 1975 1985
Pierluigi Marini 1985 1990 Italian Socialist Party
Augusto Contri 1990 1995 Italian Socialist Party
Attilio Marino 1995 2004 Civic
Emilio Landi 2004 2014 Independent (centre-left)
Jacopo Marini 2014 Incumbent Independent (centre-left)
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See also

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
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