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SIGNA
Signa is today a big industrial centre divided in a low part
hosting the factories and modern buildings and a high centre, the
Castello, which was found before the year 1000 and is still surrounded
by the boundary wall with towers and a gate from the 14th century.
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development in the Middle Ages is due to the closeness to the river
Arno. The old town had access to a strategic harbour from which it
could ship goods to and from Pisa and it also featured a bridge over
the river. The town was demolished by Castracani in the 14th century,
who were in war against Florence. But the Florentines rebuilt the
town and adorned it with a boundary wall and towers. Later on the
Medici family built several villas in the area and some of them can
still be visited. Signa was for a long time the centre of straw manufacturing.
The manufacturing goes back to the 15th century and today there is
a museum dedicated to this handicraft, the only one in Italy, which
features the history of a extraordinary cultural heritage. The museum
hosts old weaving machines and models of the famous straw hats which
were made here and then exported all over the world. Among the churches
we can point out the Church of San Mauro from the XIII century which
hosts a precious tabernacle, the Church of San Miniato which was founded
before 1200 and is embellished with many artworks from the Renaissance,
the Church of Santa Maria in Castello which was rebuilt in 1325 on
a parish church from year 1000 after having been destructed by Castruccio
Castracani. The parish church of San Giovanni Battista in a Romanesque
style and with a façade from the 15th century and the parish
church of San Lorenzo, known since 866 with precious tombs from the
Longobard period are also worth to be visited. |
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