SAN GIOVANNI VALDARNO Stories

San Giovanni Valdarno, a charming Tuscan village, boasts a centuries-old history dating back to 1299, when the government of Florence decreed its founding. Located in the heart of Tuscany, this town has played important roles over the centuries, becoming, from 1336, the seat of a Podesteria and, in 1408, a Vicariate for the entire valley.

San Giovanni Valdarno is a city that has overcome the challenges of past eras, including attacks by historical figures such as Emperor Henry VII and the Visconti, as well as natural calamities like the Arno River floods and the plague. Today, San Giovanni Valdarno is a lively Tuscan center, known not only for its historical heritage but also for its significant industrial and commercial development.

CASTEL SAN GIOVANNI

According to the renowned artist and historian Giorgio Vasari, the urban plan of Castel San Giovanni (today San Giovanni Valdarno) was developed by Arnolfo di Cambio, one of the most important architects of the 13th century, a fact assumed by recent studies.

The historic center is characterized by rectangular walls with four entrance gates and perimeter towers, enclosing a suggestive urban space divided into symmetrical blocks. The layout of the streets and neighborhoods reflects an organization designed to promote commercial activities and the growth of the population, which over time moved from outside the city to within.

Historical place names still today mark the streets, testifying to the ancient communities and villages of origin. In 1440, the municipal statute established the subdivision of the urban space into districts, named after San Lorenzo, San Giovanni, Santa Maria, and San Cristoforo.

The main axis, now Corso Italia and the old Strada Maestra, was the ancient communication route connecting Florence to Arezzo, crossing the valley. The streets of the historic center run parallel and perpendicular to this artery, meeting in the large transverse square dominated by the majestic Palazzo d'Arnolfo.

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