Lajatico

Lajatico is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) southwest of Florence and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of Pisa. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,353 and an area of 72.3 square kilometres (27.9 sq mi). Lajatico sits in mainly hilly terrain at variable elevations from 100 to 650 metres (330 to 2,130 ft) above sea level) and dominates the end of the Valdera valley and the opening of the valley known as Val di Cecina. La Sterza, one of its hamlets (frazioni), is the natural door between these two geographical areas. The Sterza, Era, and the Ragone rivers form natural borders, placing Lajatico in a very central position to reach Tuscan cities and seaside resorts. Lajatico is, however, best known as the home town of tenor Andrea Bocelli. His annual concerts at the Teatro del Silenzio are attended by people from all around the world, every year. Lajatico has the following hamlets (frazioni) associated with it: Orciatico, an ancient small medieval village; Spedaletto, a stomping ground of Lorenzo de' Medici; Villaggio San Giovanni, and La Sterza. Lajatico borders the following municipalities: Chianni, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Peccioli, Riparbella, Terricciola, Volterra. History Lajatico, as the suffix “atico” indicates, surely has Lombard heritage, but the first settlements are much more ancient. Archaeological evidence suggests (a funeral stone, some urns, terracotta vases, etc.) that the village is Etruscan in origin. The first written document mentioning Lajatico dates from 891. From then on, the Castrum Ajatici was property of the powerful Pannocchieschi family of Elci. In 1139, Ranieri Pannocchieschi gave to the Bishop of Volterra, Adimaro Adimari, his property stretching to Lajatico and neighboring areas. In 1161, another part of Lajatico was given to the Bishop of Volterra, until Bishop Ildebrando Pannocchieschi, due to a Papal Bull of August 1186, took over the political jurisdiction. In 1202, Lajatico and part of Volterra came under the influence of Pisa until 1284, when Pisa was defeated by Genoa in the battle of Meloria. At the end of the hostilities, Lajatico came back to the Bishop of Volterra, who brought it, together with Orciatico, Pietracassia and other castles, under the jurisdiction of the city of Florence, which held it until the peace of Fucecchio, in 1293. Aside from 1362, when Florence occupied Lajatico for a short time, and kept it under the jurisdiction of Pisa until 1406, when Pietro Gaetani, a Pisan noble who decided to sell out his native land, and gave the castles of Lajatico, Orciatico and Pietracassia to the Florentines. In 1434, the Florentines demolished not only the walls of the town, but also the wall and towers of the surrounding villages to punish all their inhabitants for having decided to submit themselves to Niccolò Piccinino, who was on the Vicounts of Milan’s payroll. In 1664, the same castles with their territories were conceded as a marquisate to the Corsini until 1776, when Lajatico annexed the municipality of Orciatico and, in 1869, also annexed part of the territories belonging to the municipalities of Montecatini and Volterra. 1869 was also the year in which the Banca Popolare di Lajatico was created. Dr. Guelfo Guelfi founded “La società per l’educazione del popolo” to promote education, support and mutual aid among the members. In 1883 the section relating to the Mutual Aid broke away from the above-mentioned “Società” to found, one year later, the “Banca Popolare Cooperativa di Lajatico”. It was the forbearer of the present and important bank operating in the area. Finally, in the past century, Lajatico was the subject of a novel entitled “Quattro notti a Lajatico” (Four nights in Lajatico), written by Augusto Gotti Lega, one of its most distinguished citizens. Another illustrious citizen of Lajatico, even if for a short time, was the father of the famous poet Giosuè Carducci. Historic architecture Church of St. Leonard The Parish Church of St. Leonard was built in 1275. It was too small to contain an ever-increasing number of believers and in the second half of the 19th century, it was enlarged by adding two aisles and, in 1925, a new façade. Still in the 19th century it was completely restructured by Angelo della Valle, from Livorno. Work started in July 1853 and the Church was opened Christmas Day in 1856. The present form is of neoclassical with a nave and two aisles and a semicircular apse. The columns supporting the vaults of the naves are cylindrical in shape with Ionic capitals. Inside, the Church the nave ends with a barrel vault. The high altar, destroyed by war, was completely restructured in 1957. The frescos on the central vault, representing Jesus Christ and Our Lady of the Assumption, have been painted by the Sienese Gualtiero Anichini between 1949 and 1950. In 1952 Professor Marini painted San Giuseppe. In 1965 the pipe organ was restored (with over 849 pipes). Moreover, on the entrance wall there is a plaque saying that on 26 August 1857, Pope Pius IX went past these places. Beside it, another memento reminds visitors the moment in which his body came back and stopped in the church of Lajatico. In 1300, Pope Urban VI travelling from Genoa to Perugia spent a night in Lajatico with his court. Oratory of St. Sebastian Near to the Church of St. Leonard, there is the ancient Oratory of St. Sebastian. It was built in 1520 by a brotherhood or parishioners to pray and carry out other charitable acts. Some years later a “hospital for poor people” was built which served people until 1585. Since 1946 it is known as the Chapel for the Fallen. In 2001 its façade was decorated by Paolo Maiani with his fresco entitled “Recupero di memoria,” representing the triumph of the Resurrection. Sala Polivalente (Multi-purpose hall) Near the Oratory of St. Sebastian there were the remains of a noble chapel. In 2002 it was taken over by the Municipality and, after a thorough restoration, it was put at the citizens disposal as a multi-purpose hall. Inside, there is also a small Etruscan museum made of finds coming from Lajatico (a funeral urn, some amphorae, and a big funeral stone). The Belltower and the Clock Probably, the present bell-tower belonged to the ancient castle of Lajatico. In 1790, the Gottis, owners of the castle at that time, installed a public clock on it. In 1791, after having done some repairs to the walls, the magistracy of Lajatico decided to buy a clock for the tower with bell included at a price of 80 ecus. The works were commissioned to Donato Rosi from Volterra. Other work was done on the tower in 1860. In 1999 the obsolete and disused clock mechanisms were removed, repaired and exhibited in the town hall. The Castle The Castle, placed in the very center of the town, dates back to the years before 1000 (Castrum Ajatici). Nowadays, there is almost nothing pointing to the existence of it, apart from the side facing the main square. The façade has a stone coat of arms representing the symbol of Pisa as Maritime Republic. High, on the left, a stone lion holding a shield carved with Florence’s lily. On top of the entrance door there is a double lancet window surrounded by six coats of arms; five of them cannot be recognized, but the remaining one, placed above the window, represents an eagle, probably the Gaetani’s coat of arms. In the small entrance, three stone carved scenes relevant to the battle between the Pisa Republic and Florence. Pietro Gaetani sold the castle to the Florentines in 1405 and, in 1434, and they pulled down its tower and wall as a punitive action. On the right side of the building there is the bell tower. From there, an excavation reveals the Gotti Lega’s palace. The Municipal Palace On the town's main road, the old prison's original structure can still be seen. It came down after many changes of use: from Lajatico government seat to civil house in the 19th century. On the building, constructed in the 12th century, are still visible the coats of arms of the various lords of Lajatico. Other main sights Villa di Spedaletto The Springs (The Fonti) were the most important water supply for the castle in Lajatico. Due to their large discharge, in 1783, Gonfalonier Ottavio Gotti decided to enlarge them making a trough for animals and some baths to be used as public washtubs. Originally, they were equipped with wood-roofing and curved tiles that, later were destroyed. Municipal Theatre was created in the latter half of the 19th century by the “Società per l’educazione delPopolo.” It is a simple oblong structure with a wooden stand and a 7-metre (23 ft) deep stage. In World War II, all its activities were stopped to use it as warehouse. In 1958–60, after having been partially restored, it became a cinema. The Municipality bought it in 1996 and restored it completely, embellishing it with very particular trims and decorations. Teatro del Silenzio (Theatre of Silence) is a natural theatre framed in the hills of Lajatico. Andrea Bocelli, its honorary president, performs at the theatre, in July of every year, the rest of the year it remains silent. A small lake is surrounded by travertine blocks. In the centre are works of artists such as Igor Mitorai and Arnaldo Pomodoro. Events Weekly market: Every Wednesday morning Maggio Lajatichino: Third Sunday of May Festa della bruschetta Third Sunday of June Teatro del Silenzio concert July Village Fair September Feast of San Leonardo Abate Patron saint of the town. 6 November. Notable people Andrea Bocelli, was born and raised here. He now resides in Forte dei Marmi Demographic evolution References External links www.comune.lajatico.pi.it/