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Colle di Val d’Elsa is located in the heart of Tuscany in a strategic position, close to the cities of Siena, Florence, Volterra, San Gimignano, along the route of the old Via Francigena, the medieval
"highway" of long-haul pilgrims travelling to Rome from mothern Europe. The town originally developed in three distinct sites, each with different buildings and layout: Il Borgo of Santa Caterina, Il Castello di Piticciano (Piticciano’s Castle) and il piano. The first two settlements are the oldest and were reserved for for the local dominant classes. Situated along the same ridge in a east-west direction, and separated by a large dip or saddle, they look down on the valley below, where the third “Borgo” stands, il Piano which is more recentin terms of its development, and which has alwais been the site of industrial activity.
Whilist the area of Colle di Val d’Elsa has the 4th millennium BC, the first documents mentioning Colle di Val d’Elsa date to the 10th century. However, it was with the end of the 12th century that the town gradually acquired political autonomy and political identity of its town: the first documented municipal statues date to 1307. Even in the medieval period the urban zone covered a large area which, as well as the upper part of town, comprised il piano which extended along the route of of the original gore (water channels). The gore are the artificial water channels supplyed by water from the river Elsa and were built over the centuries starting in the early 13th century with the presence of numerous buildings which relied on water-mills,paper-mills,and fulling-mills. In this sense, the gore were a crucial factor in the town’s economy, fostering the developing of the industrial enterprises.
In its history, Colle di Val d’Elsa was the setting for frequent militar events. Among the most famous of these we wold note the battle of 1269 between the Guelf (Florence) and Ghibellines which had significant repercussions for the political geography of Tuscany and the siege of the troops of the Duke of Calabria, which took place in 1479 in defence of territory of Florence, which led first to serius destruction , and later the further reiforcement of the system of fortification.
In the course of 16th century, Colle di Val d’Elsa still gravitaded in the orbit of Florence, gradually acquiring more and more power, above the Medici family and to illustrios figures come from Colle di Val d’Elsa who looked after administration on behalf of the Prince.After the war with war of Siena and the formation of the Grand Duchy og Tuscany, in 1592 with the papal bull of Clement VIII, Colle di Val d’Elsa became the site of a new diocese. In the 16th century, with the Usimbardi family, a new chapter was begun in the history of the modern Colle di val d’Elsa. Individuals of international standing who were born here include Arnolfo di Cambio, a sculptor and architect who designed the Florence Cathedral, Cennino Cennini, a famous fresco-painter, Mino Maccari and the writer Romano Bilenchi. On the treshold of the modern era, paper production was replaced by the new industries of iron and glass. The industrial activity of Colle di Val d’Elsa was marked above all first by the production of glass and subsequently by the production of lead-crystal glass.Ideed, as far back as the 19th century Colle di Val d’Elsa was described as “the Bohemia of Italy”, nowadays it has become a full-scale “Crystal Town” , making 15% of world’s entire output.
Crystal’s industries are today the really production’s heart of di Colle di Val d’Elsa: C.a.l.p., Vilca, Colle cristallerie, Arnolfo di Cambio are the most important. Theirs productions are made by machines and too with a traditional system “blowed” Hand-Made. In the
Crystal’s Consortium museum of Colle di Val d’Elsa you can see and find the old and the most important works of ours artisians. In the first 3 weekend of september, every year, you can see and visit the our trade-show Cristallo tra le Mura were all the artisians can show you their fantastics works.Blowers,cutting and envgravings can be see in real time. Fantastics operas in a trasparent world.
La Grotta del Cristallo cut and produce with exclusive engravings special objects for your furnishing or just for your gft idea.
Lagrottacrystal.com is our old and storic website, visit now the new one
lagrottadelcristallo.it.
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