Empoli (Italian pronunciation:[ˈempoli]) is a town and comune in the
Metropolitan City of Florence,
Tuscany, Italy, about 30 km (20 miles) southwest of
Florence, to the south of the
Arno in a plain formed by the river. The plain has been usable for agriculture since
Roman times. The commune's territory becomes hilly as it departs from the river. Empoli is on the main railway line from Florence to
Pisa, and is the point of divergence of a line to
Siena.
Empoli has an enduring tradition as an agricultural centre. It has given its name to a local variety of
artichoke.
History
Archaeological finds have revealed that Empoli was already settled in the early
Roman Empire times, and continued to exist until the 4th century AD. The river acted as a communication way for the trade of agricultural products, together with the local
amphorae. In the
Tabula Peutingeriana of the 4th century Empoli is called in portu ("in the port") as a river port on the Roman road Via Quinctia, which led from
Fiesole and
Florence to
Pisa. Empoli was also on the Via Salaiola, connecting to
Volterra's salt ponds.
Since the 8th century Empoli consolidated as a town around the castle, known as Emporium or Empolis. In 1119 it was absorbed into the
Guidi counts' possessions. In 1182 it fell 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.
Later Empoli became an important fortress, and was therefore repeatedly sacked and attacked. In 1530 its fall marked the end of the independence of the
Florentine Republic.
Main sights
Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, also known as Piazza dei Leoni ("Lions Square"), is marked in its centre by a fountain by
Luigi Pampaloni (1827). Here lies the Collegiata di Sant'Andrea [
it], the main city's monument. The church probably existed as early as the 5th century AD, and is mentioned in a papal bull of 1059. It was rebuilt in the 11th century by the pievano Rolando, by permission of the Countess Emilia dei Conti Guidi. In the mid of the following century, a
Romanesque arcaded façade was added: it was decorated with bi-chrome marble stones, in a style inspired by the basilica of
San Miniato in
Florence. The green stones were from
Prato, and the white ones are from
Carrara: today the lower part of the original decoration remains. In 1735 the architect
Ferdinando Ruggieri extensively modified the façade and the interior structure, including the ceiling. It houses noteworthy artworks including paintings by
Francesco Botticini, a
terracotta by
Luca della Robbia, an altarpiece (1785) by
Zanobi del Rosso and a
triptych by
Lorenzo di Bicci portraying the Madonna in Throne with Saints.
The Palazzo Ghibellino is the former palace of the Guidi counts. It was probably erected in the 11th century. In 1260 it was the seat of the
Ghibelline parliament where the fate of the Florence's
Guelphs was decided. In the 16th century, the palace was restored, leaving little of the original structure, though.
The Palazzo Pretorio was the Town Hall in the Middle Ages. Currently, it houses several activities, including an
auditorium.
The house of the painter
Pontormo is in the frazione (hamlet) of Pontorme.