Casole d'Elsa

Casole d'Elsa is part of the province of Siena and rises like a medieval village, a hill of 417 meters, overlooking the panorama of the Val d'Elsa and the countryside. Keep still part of the medieval ramparts. The place name comes from the Latin "Casula" or house or hut, while the specific "Elsa" was added only in 1862, with reference to the nearby river. The place is quoted for the first time in a notarial deed dell'896 with which the Marquis of Tuscany Adalberto granted the village feud in the Bishopric of Volterra. Documents of the century XI mentioning still Casole castle as the Diocese of Volterra. Since 1201 becomes free, then dropped in 1240 under the influence of Siena who conquered after a long siege, strengthening the fortifications. During 1259, Florence invaded the village, who after being defeated, subdued the annexation in Siena. Over time there were a number of popular uprisings against the government of Siena, although they were always domate. But in this period Casole is affected by a major urban development and economic, due to trade consequent development of roads in Valdelsa and the presence of the powerful family of Aringhieri. In the eleventh century has documented the degradation of the walls of Casole that, in 1481 the Government acting Sienese new works of fortification. In 1554 the territory became a battlefield between the Republic Fiorentina and Siena that ended with the victory of Florence and the annexation of Casole d'Elsa to Mediceo possessions. Following the annexations to the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Among the works are monumental certainly the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta kind in the twelfth century on a Roman church of the second half of the fifteenth century. Keep inside numerous works of art of the Sienese school. In Casolani way, we can observe the palace praetorium Trecentesco, revised in 1487 by Francesco di Giorgio, with the facade full of coats of arms of noble families of Casole and Colle Val d'Elsa. In the south the town Square in Luchetti, has set the Fortress Senese, transformed now into the town hall.

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