VISITING THE EMPOLI AREA? WE KNOW WHERE YOU’LL STAY!
When we say the Empoli area of Tuscany is a stone’s throw from Florence, we mean it. For those wishing for some quiet moments away from the magnificent splendour of Florence, Empoli, a mere 30 km from the bigger city, offers peace and solitude, with plenty of accommodation facilities to suit all pockets.
For those who don’t know, Empoli is located about 30 m above sea level, on the main railway line from Florence to Pisa, to the south of the River Arno, in a plain formed by the river that has been used for agriculture since the Roman era. Though the plains make way for hilly territory the further you go from the river, Empoli continues to enjoy a reputation as an agricultural region, and has even lent its name to a local type of artichoke.
However, Empoli is also famous – justly so – for its crystal ware, and its many historical remains. In 1119, Empoli came under the Guidi counts and in 1182 went under Florentine rule. In 1260, after the Battle of Montaperti, Empoli was the seat of a famous council in which Farinata degli Uberti opposed the destruction of Florence. The castle of Empoli went on to become an important fortress, and was sacked a number of times. In 1530 its fall marked the end of the independent Florentine Republic.
A fountain by Luigi Pampaloni marks the centre of the Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, also called Piazza dei Leoni (Lions’ Square). Here you will find the Collegiata di Sant’Andrea, the Palazzo Ghibellino, built by the Guidi counts in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 16th, and the Palazzo Pretorio, which served as Empoli’s town hall. The Palazzo Ghibellino now houses an auditorium, the Museo Paleontologico, and the Archivo Storico. Next to the Collegiata, an ecclesiastical museum built in 1859 has a gallery with paintings dating back to 1336, including works by Filippo Lippi and Della Robbia. Near the Piazza is the 14th-century Chiesa di Santo Stefano, and next to the church is a 16th century convent. Also in the Empoli area is the village of Pontorme, birthplace of painter Jacopo Carrucci, known as Il Pontormo.
For those worrying about accommodation in the Empoli area, we can assure you that there are plenty of good hotels as our list (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Empoli-Area.htm) tells you, restaurants, and other modern amenities. Away from its historical centre, Empoli is a modern town and a very good base from which to visit Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Volterra, and the birthplace of Leonardo, the town of Vinci.
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