Sinalunga Province of Siena - Tuscany - Italy

History

Sinalunga has clear Etruscan origins, This can seen from the numerous finds which indicate that around the 8^th-6^th centuries B.C. there were Etruscan settlements here. Some Roman settlements of the 2^nd-1^st centuries B.C. were also discovered during the excavations suring the last century near Pieve di Sinalunga.
Nevertheless, the first documents which mention Sinalunga are from 1197, the year in which the town passed into the hands of the powerful Cacciaconti family.
At the beginning of the 1300s it became part the Sienese State where it remained until 1553 after being seat of the Vicariate from 1337 to 1468. For a short period (1399) it was allied with Galeazzo Visconti but in 1553 was handed over by imperial troops to the Medici State and in 1558 became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and was seat of the Chief Justice.
On July 9^th 1737 Giangastone died, Gran Duke of the Medici and last descendant of the noble family which had lasted more than 170 years.
In 1778 various villages of what are today the wards of Sinalunga were united to form what to all effects is the Commune of Sinalunga.
In 1799 Sinalunga was under French rule and was liberated on July 20^th, 1814 by Confaloniere Lorenzo Pegni.
In 1867 became renowned when the regular army arrested Garibaldi in Palazzo Agnolucci in an attempt to prevent his march on Rome.
During the Risorgimental period and in the various campaigns for indipendence (1859-1866) Sinalunga always contributed a considerable number of volonteers.
Sinalunga was the birthplace of many illustrious persons such as the musician Ciro Pinsuti (1828-1888) pianist and author of famous novels (Il Mercante di Venezia, Il Libro Santo, among others) as well as pupil and friend of Rossini. There was prof. Giuseppe Stocchi (1832-1900) a famous writer and historian, prof. Ezio Marchi (1869-1908) zoologist and mentor of the "Chianina" breed of cattle.
The main productive resources of Sinalunga, predominatly agriculture in the past, is today light industry. The most important sectors are milk products, furniture, engineering, crystal glass, quality ceramics made by craftsmen and terracotta. Salami is another typical product of the area. But Sinalunga has not neglected tourism since it is able to count on a wealth of artefacts and historical remains which provide an attraction for visitors from far afield.

Art

A main settlement which, with the arrival of the railway, developed in the lowland area where an ancient church is located (San Pietro a Mensulas) mentioned in the Tavola Peuntigeriana. Now it resembles a romanic contruction with three naves and inside there are conserved two burial stones of the Roman era.
Other important religious and laic buildings, other than the church include:
THE COLLEGIATE OF SAN MARTINO: begun in 1587 on the site of the fortress and using the same materials according to the design of the Perugians Simone and Bernardino Ferri.
The staircase is from 1616 and the same from 1753. Inside can be seen works of Girolamo Pacchia (16^th century), Benvenuto di Giovanni (16^th century) and Sodoma and his school (16^th century).
THE CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DELLE NEVI: begun in 1685 and containing a bas-relief depicting the Madonna with Child and Angels (15^th century) and a Madonna by Benvenuto di Giovanni (16^th century).
THE CHURCH OF SANTA CROCE: located next to the destroyed fortress and containing a beatiful panel painting from the school of Luca Signorelli. The facade is from the first half of the 17^th century.
THE CHURCH OF SANTA LUCIA: already existed in 1278, it was extended in 1568 and later desecrated. Now it is a musical auditorium.
CHIESA DEL CHIODO: built in 1289 it was formerly the church annexed to the tiny 13^th century 3-bed hospital and containing a fresco from 1464 depicting a Nativity.
THE CONVENT OF SAN BERNARDINO: standing on the hill of Poggio Baldino, about 500 m from the village, it was built in 1499 and largely restored in the 18^th century. It contains a Bapism of Jesus and the Incoronation of the Madonna by Guidoriccio Cozzarelli (c. 1483) and an Annunciation by Benvenuto di Giovanni (1470). Inside the sanctuary the image of the Madonna del Rifugio (a copy of the original attributed to Sano di Pietro, which has been removed for safekeeping) is venerated, protectress of the Valdichiana.
Other important buildings include:
PALAZZO PRETORIO: built between 1337 and 1346 and restored in the 15^th and 17^th centuries; it was the former seat of public authority. In this palace numerous coats of arm of the Podestà can be seen and others of the Medici family.
FONTE DEL CASTAGNO: built in 1265 it was the only spring in the village and built outside the walls led to the destruction of the Sinalunga fortress in 1312.
CIRO PINSUTI THEATRE: the Smantellati Academy contributed in 1797 to the building of this theatre which was subsequently dedicated to Ciro Pinsuti, a musician from Sinalunga and pupil of Rossini.
ANTIQUARIUM: a centre for the collection and exhibition of antique finds, it contains a valuable painting by D. Beccafumi as well as a rich selection of Lekytos, Pitos and remnants of bucchero vases from Etruscan times.
SFERISTERIO: in 1853 as a result of the poor harvest the Commune, in an attempt to give work to the people, had built the Communal Sferisterio where a ball-game was played. In 1986 after being struck by lightening, it was renovated and the height reduced.
Leaving the town following the road which leads to Torrita di Siena we find the ancient medieval village of the Amorosa. This manor house was built in 1575 on the occasion of the marriage between Niccolò Piccolomini and Ippolita Pannilini, although the castle was owned by the Piccolomini family as far back as 1350. At the centre of the village is found the church of S. Maria Assunta.

Cultural events

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