Vernio

Vernio is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Prato in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Florence and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Prato, with a pupulation of 6.095. History Vernio's name derives from that of an ancient Roman winter camp (castra hiberna) located here. A Roman bridge existed in the area, but was destroyed during World War II. In the 12th century it went from the Carolingians to the counts Alberti from Prato, who lived here after 1107. In the 13th century it went to the Bardi family, as the seat of a county which remained independent until 1798, when it was abolished by Napoleon. After the Congress of Vienna it was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Geography Vernio borders the following municipalities: Barberino di Mugello, Camugnano, Cantagallo, Castiglione dei Pepoli. The municipality of Vernio is a union of three villages: San Quirico (with the town hall) Mercatale with the Vernio-Cantagallo-Montepiano train station Sant 'Ippolito (with a nice parish church) Villages Cavarzano Celle di Vernio Ceraio Costozze Gavazzoli Gorandaccio La Rocca di Vernio La Storaia La Valle di Vernio Le Confina Luciana di Verrio Mercatale Di Vernio Montepiano Poggiole San Quirico di Vernio Sant'Ippolito di Vernio Sasseta Segalari Terrigoli Main sights The main sight is the Abbey of Santa Maria (11th century), at Montepiano, housing 13th-century frescoes. Churches Montepiano abbey Sant'Agata chapel in La Rocca Ex oratory of the company of Jesus in Sant'Ippolito Madonna della Neve in Sasseta San Pietro in Cavarzano Santuario di Sant'Antonio Maria Pucci San Bartolomeo in Costozze San Martino in Luciana San Michele in Sasseta San Niccolò oratory in San Quirico San Quirico e Leonardo in San Quirico Sant'Antonio da Padova in Mercatale Sant'Ippolito e Cassiano in Sant'Ippolito Santa Maria in Montepiano Nature La Torricella Alpe in cavarzano Feasts Feast of polenta San Quirico, 26 February Carnival in Sant'Ippolito Sant'Ippolito, 22 February San Giuseppe feast San Quirico, May Madonna delle Neve feast in Sasseta, August Rificolona fest in Montepiano, August Commemoration of the threshing of the wheat and spelled in cavarzano, 31 July Montepiano Country, 23 July Twin towns Senones, France Jettingen, Germany Marchin, Belgium References External links Media related to Vernio at Wikimedia Commons Official website