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San Casciano in Val di Pesa is a small town on top of a hill to the south of Florence, 15km, in the direction of Siena, 40km, one full of historic monuments. San Casciano in Val di Pesa has a population of 16.000 inhabitants and it rises 310 metres above the sea level.

Since Roman times it was a post station on the hill just before the descent to Florence begins. The earliest written documentation dates back to 1043.

The town was under Florentine rule from 1272 and because of the strategic importance that San Casciano held, and its proximity to Florence, it was frequently devastated.

The well populated town was general quarters of the troops of Arrigo VII in 1312-13, while the city walls were built in 1355 and strengthened in the 16th century under Cosimo I.

Since the first half of the 15th century, once the Tuscany state was strongly under the Medici family, San Casciano cemented its league with Florence and suddenly town gates were pulled down as well as bastions and towers. At that time castles were converted to very nice villas where weathy Florentine families spent their free time.

Parts of the 14th century walls still remain, and the town is home to the interesting churches, which contain important works of art by Simone Martini, Giotto, Coppo di Marcovaldo and Ugolino di Neri.

San Casciano is a town where you can live in pleasant suroundings with patrician palaces in the heart of town.

This beautiful town is full of shops of all kinds and descriptions. There is also a large weekly market. The position of San Casciano is perfect for those who desire to discover the area of Florence and Siena in a warm and inviting atmosphere and listening to a pure Tuscan dialect.

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• San Casciano in Val di Pesa