Lucignano

Lucignano sits on the ridge of Palazzuolo’s heights, in the district of Arezzo. Toponomastic and historical evidence trace up the first human setting to a Roman castrum, risen by the road linking Arezzo to Siena.. Thanks to its commanding stand, 414 mt. high, overlooking Valdichiana, in middle ages we see the place becoming a valuable fortress on the border; its strategical placing marks the story of Lucignano, forever contended over by neighbouring powers. Most likely named after consul Lucio Licinio Lucullo, the hamlet is later called Lucinianum, seemingly after having been conquered by Lucio Silla, in I century B.C.. Beside, many meaningful archaeological findings of Villanovan and Etruscan age made in the neighbourhood point out at the spot as being already densely peopled at the time.
In Middle Age Lucignano is everlastingly changing hands between Siena, Arezzo, Florence and Perugia. An heirloom of the last was handed down to the town’s coat of arms; the winged gryphon, to which a star was added, meaning that the castle stood on a hill.
The town-planning, that’s still so peculiar of Lucignano historical heart, dates back to 1200, and developed all around the original stronghold. Even nowadays the pattern of concentric rings, linked by narrow lanes, is perfectly preserved.
While Siena ruled, in XIV century, the boundary walls were completed, with their three gates (1371), St. Giusto’s, St.John’s and the so-called Walled-up Gate. Then the two towered citadel was built, as a last improvement of the defences.
Several religious buildings stand inside the walls, amid which the outstanding feature is St.Michael Archangel’s Collegiate church, erected in XVI century as an ideal implementation of the town, atop of the hill, on the spot already taken by the castle. Nearby, in Court square of today, rose Praetorian Hall, heart of local political power, now lodging a Civic Museum.
In 1554, following the downfall of Siena, Lucignano is handed over to Florence, and the town-planning undergoes many interventions. They start to build the stronghold, said to be a Bernardo Puccini’s project, Our Lady of the Oaks’ Sanctuary ( 1568), said to be by Vasari, just outside the historical town-centre, Capuchin friars’ monastery ( about 1580 ), Holy Mercy’s church (1582) and Collegiate church (1594).
Notwithstanding these several changes, the town-planning articulates in space and function, developing a peculiar feature in the “rich street” – nowadays Via Matteotti – looking south, broad and well lighted, where the gentry builds its mansions, and a “poor street” northward – now Via Roma, also called Corsica- flanked by smaller and cheaply built houses, belonging to the more destitute villagers. We start for an ideal tour of Lucignano by St.Giusto’s gate, entering the walled town, and reach a square lined by an arcade after the manner of 1500. By a slope leading to an elliptical flight of stairs we rise up to the Collegiate church, a work of Orazio Porta, admirably fitting in the middle age urban context. On the left we approach Court Square, with the Town Hall ( XIII century), embellished by stone-carved coats of arms, now a museum lodging several paintings of the Sienese school, dated from XIII to XV century, and the Tree of Lucignano, a well–known relic shrine of gilded copper, still held by local folk-lore to bring good-luck to couples engaged to be married. On the right of Town Hall we reach the most scenographic square in town, St.Francis’, enriched by the homonymous church, with its Romanic façade built in white and grey stone layers, with a Gothic gate and a rose-window.
Thanks to all these peculiar features Lucignano can claim to be one in the narrow circle of town boasting of an Orange Flag, a quality award Tuscany department, together with T.C.I., grants to the best of historical villages.