Origins
Vicchio has a very old, as demonstrated by the attendance Etruscan scattered on the ground. The important Etruscan ruins of Poggio Colla, a hill southeast of Montesassi, led by some American University under the direction of Prof.. Gregory Warden can be visited during the excavation in the months of June and July.
They are published in the website: www.smu.edu/poggio/
The events that characterize the history and development of Vicchio must be traced back to the late thirteenth century, when the Florentine Republic gave its interest in Mugello.
The coexistence between the feudal domain type (exercised by Ubaldini and Guidi) and its new socio-economic organization in the town of Florence created a conflict, through which the people were released from feudal character franchises and followed a reorganization throughout mugellano, through the construction of new centers, called "new lands", which is closely linked to the city by administrative and economic constraints.
In this context is the story of Vicchio. Its origin dates back to 1295 when it was built bridge Montesassi (today's Bridge in Vicchio) and the people of San Giusto in Montesassi crossed the Sieve to build a first urban called Vico, from which the name is derived Vicchio.
In 1308 the Florence Podesta, Ugolino de Bittonio, asked Common Montesassi, Vespignano and Parishes neighboring building, the place called Vicchio, a new fortified village, and stated that its construction should participate only those who wished abitarci. With the construction of the wall (1324) that richiudevano a much wider of Vico, finally enters the village became part of the Florentine. From now begins a period of real development. The population increases with the input of the people of Ampinana and fortresses of Belfonte and Gattaia, redeemed by the Florentines. Vicchio becomes home to a Podesteria, has a "surcharge" and a statute based on the principles of freedom, written in vernacular by Coluccio Salutati. The statute of the constitution Podesteria Castle Vicchio of 1413, is headed by reproductive's arms with pine, with three pine cones, and bordered by 2 stars.
A witness to the increased importance of the country is the establishment of a weekly market, which was held on Thursday (tradition kept to this day).
History
To understand the link between Vicchio and the city, and adherence to the values of which this was the bearer, namely recall an important episode in which vicchiesi gave proof of courage and loyalty. In early 1500 in Florence defended democratic freedoms and Republican against despotic tyranny of the Medici. In 1529 the Spanish troops and those of Clement VII of the Medici had completely invaded Mugello to besiege Florence.
Vicchio remained faithful to the Republic of Florence. The behavior of its two consuls, Philip Parenti and Albizio de Fortuna was exemplary. The militias vicchiesi resisted aggressive forces of imperial and papal isolation to strike the enemy troops until, in 1530, Florence capitulated and Filippo of Orange sent six thousand Spanish soldiers to expunge Vicchio. Philip Parenti informed of this, considering all resistance futile, took refuge in Marradi, in an attempt to defend it.
In later centuries Vicchio loses some of its importance, and the population decreases in 1838 the Podesteria is deleted to be aggregated with that of Borgo San Lorenzo. |
