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Impruneta is a Tuscan hill town located between the valleys of the Greve and the Ema rivers, 14 kilometres from Florence, the route takes us through olive groves and vineyards surrounding Impruneta.

Impruneta was already inhabited in Etrurian age, then, the outskirts of Florence and the passing of an important comunication way supported the birth of an important Roman settlement. The life centre of Impruneta’s community was the famous church of Santa Maria of Impruneta. The Basilica of Santa Maria, consacrated in 1060, has been altered and restored many times, especially after the bombardment during the second World War, but it still conserves its 14th and 16th century cloisters, an extraordinary Romanesque crypt. During the last war, two thirds of the Basilica was destroyed by a bomb attack as well as part of the town. The image of the Madonna was miraculosly saved and moved to Florence to the Church of San Felice where it had often been taken in previous centuries. Thanks to the Head of Fine Arts, the church has since been rebuilt and many of the works of art have been patiently repaired.

Today Impruneta has a population of 14.600 inhabitants and a surface of 48,77 square kilometers. It rises 275 metres above the sea level.

The landscape’s harmony of Impruneta’s area is a strong recall for the large number of turists that every year visit this Tuscany’s area. The countryside around Impruneta is extremely beautiful and, many of its treasures, like the tiny churches hidden among the cypress trees are hardly known.

Impruneta is a country rich of cultural events

The great Wine Festival in September that has a parade of decorated allegorical carts provide visitors and locals alike with a great chance to enjoy themselves as well as taste the local wines.

The September event was Italy's first organised grape harvest festival back in 1926 and keps the original traditional character.

The Fiera di San Luca, the popular October festival dedicated to Saint Luke when pilgrims coming in large numbers, originally a feast associated with the movement and sale of livestock, it is now celebrated with stalls dinners, and horse races.

Impruneta is a traditional farming town blessed with land that is naturally rich in iron, copper, calcium, and aluminum,and has always been famous for its terracotta. The first record of terracotta manufature dates from 1098 and continued to present time, with exclusive Impruneta brand, the most durable terra cotta in the world.

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• Impruneta