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Cinque Terre and Tuscany cooking Tour (3
nights)
Tuscany Cooking & Touring Tour
(5 nights)
Tuscany Cooking break (3 nights)
Tuscany Truffles Autumn Cooking & Touring
long week-end (2 nights)
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Lari
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Lari
The small town of Lari is situated where three ridges
of the highest Pisan hills meet and has been inhabited since Etruscan
times. The massive Castle is built in the center of the town; it was
recorded in the early Middle Ages although the building we see today
dates to the first half of the 17th century.
Due to its dominant position of the entire valley of
the River Arno (from the Castle walls the view stretches from the Pisan
hills to the steep hills of Volterra, from the coast of Leghorn to
Peccioli and beyond) the Castle was an important military stronghold of
the Pisan Republic until it was conquered by Florence in October 1406.
The Castle is defended by an exterior surrounding wall
with three gates: `Porta Fiorentina“, `Pisana“ and `Volterrana“. The
latter was the main road leading into the town and had a drawbridge,
later removed in 1798.
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Mention must be made of the provost church of `S.
Leonardo e S. Maria Assunta“ (St. Leonard and St. Mary of the
Assumption) which dates back to the 15th century, with paintings by
Melani and two marble statues attributed to Andrea Pisano, as well as
the market arcade whose original plans date to the end of the 16th
century while its present appearance dates to the mid 19th century when
an earthquake caused serious damage to the building.
Lari merits a leisurely stroll to gradually discover
the myriad of charms hidden in its streets that meander away from the
town across the surrounding countryside.
"I came to Lari and from its castle saw the
countryside spreading out before me, the jewel of Tuscany", as the
Great Duke of Tuscany Leopold II said when he visited this small town.
Click here to download a tourist map of the village.
The Art and History of the Vicari Castle of Lari
Nestling amongst the Pisan hills, the little town of Lari can safely
lay claim to having Etruscan origins. It was also inhabited
during Roman times and during the early Middle Ages, and by the
beginning of the second millennium the town had become very influential.
Recorded in the 11th century, the Castle as it is today
controlled a vast area of land and this soon became the subject of
battles between Pisa and Lucca.
From the 12th century the
Castle was the property of the Archbishops of Pisa and in
1230 it became the home of the powerful Upezzinghi family
of Pisa. From 1289 it became an important fortress of the
border of the Republic of Pisa and was besieged many times by the troops
of the Republic of Florence.
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Cesare Antognacci, View of Lari Castle (1617)
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Coat-of-arms of the
Strozzi family (1540)
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In 1406 Florence conquered Pisa
together with Lari that became the most important town in the Pisan
hills.
The Castle thus became the home of the "Vicari", Florentine
governors and members of the aristocratic families of Florence (Medici,
Pitti, Peruzzi, Strozzi, Degl'Albizzi,...), that over the centuries
transformed it into a luxury residence, suitable for entertaining the
rulers of Tuscany (from Cosimo I of the Medici to Leopold
II of the Hapsburgs).
The power of the "Vicario" of Lari extended over a vast area that
went from the Tyrrhenian coast (from Vada, in the south, nearly to
Leghorn in the north), to the tenures of the podestas of Palaia and
Peccioli in the east, while towards the south it reached Riparbella and
Pontedera in the north.
For the entire 15th century, every time
Pisa rebelled against Florence, Lari took an active part in attempts to
re-establish autonomy from Florence. This is why it was repeatedly
besieged but to no avail: the Castle of Lari retained its fame as being
invincible. With the 16th century the town finally passed into
the hands of the Florentines, who took steps to fortify the Castle and
decorate it.
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Important work was done between the 15th and 16th centuries
and can still be seen today: the fortifications were restored by
Francesco da San Gallo in 1530 and David Fortini in 1559;
the facades overlooking the inner courtyard were decorated with
coats-of-arms by Andrea (1435-1525), Andrea il giovane
(1475-1548) and Giovanni della Robbia (1469-1529/30), Benedetto
(1461-1521) and Santi Buglione (1494-1576).
On the right: The coat-of-arms of the People of Florence and an Enthroned Madonna with Child
Inside the Castle numerous frescos were painted (attributed to
Andrea da Pisa, late 15th century and to Frą Bartolomeo della Porta
O.P.), the architraves were richly decorated, and a Madonna with
Child by Andrea della Robbia after a model by Luca
della Robbia was made to decorate the bedroom of the "Vicario",
Alessandro Segni.
The "Vicari" lived in the spacious rooms in the
Castle until 1848, when this post was abolished and replaced by
that of the praetor.
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The Castle was then transformed into the Palazzo Pretorio, and was used for this purpose until 1962.
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The Vicari Castle today
Apart from being in the past the central hub of Tuscan government, Lari
Castle is now becoming increasingly important in the life of the
surrounding area. In 1991 it began to be re-evaluated as a historical
building, thanks to the efforts of the voluntary workers of the cultural
association "
Il Castello" supported by the Town Council, who opened it to public
visits (entries are increasing all the time, showing the Castle is
appreciated).
After only a few years, the first restoration work was started to
restore the Castle to some of its ancient beauty. The architecture of
the Castle remains almost unchanged since it was built as the seat of
government. It was built on the top of the hill of Lari, from which
vantage point it was possible to keep watch over the entire valley of the
River Arno.
This is why it was so important, and, over the centuries, so
disputed over. Inside there was a prison, Chancellery, the residence of
the Vicario and the Magistrates“ Court.
The latter remained in use until 1962, and is now mainly used for
conferences and civil
weddings, to the enjoyment of bridal couples and speakers alike.
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The Castle entrance courtyard is available for use either for weddings
or conferences and is decorated with 92 coats-of-arms (these are also
being restored) bequeathed by the many Vicari who lived in the Castle
for over four centuries.
The Castle rooms also play host to various types of exhibitions, from
art to poetry and even exhibitions of wartime relics.
And then there is "
Magical History", a reconstruction of medieval battles acted by children in
the courtyard and on the ramparts.
To see near the Castle and the town...
How to get there:
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Lari is a small town situated near the Tuscan coast (about 40 km
away), 30 km south of Pisa, and 80 km south-west of Florence (45 minutes
by car). It is easy to reach from the `Firenze-Pisa-Livorno Superstrada“
(the main Florence-Pisa-Leghorn clearway): to get here from Pisa or from
Florence take the exit for Pontedera-Ponsacco. Lari is about 10
km from here and is signposted.
Getting there from the coast however (from Leghorn) take the Lavoria
exit, continue for Cenaia and then on to Quattro
Strade-Perignano. Lari is 5 km from here and is well signposted.
Coming from the A12 motorway, leave the motorway at the
Collesalvetti junction (about 15 km from Lari), pass through
Cenaia and continue on towards Quattro Strade-Perignano.
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Coming from the A11 motorway on the other hand you must leave it at
Altopascio, continuing on to Pontedera, Ponsacco
and then follow the signs.
Click
here for the main bus routes for Lari and timetables : CPT - Route
400
Courtesy of Comune di Lari
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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