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History of Calenzano in the Province of Florence

In historic times this area which is located between the flood-prone Florentine plane and the Appennine buttresses, was contested by the Ligurians and the Etruscans, who substituted the Romans.

In the early Middle Ages, the parish churches rose on the remains of the Roman ruins. This was the first socio-economical organization after the fall of the Roman Empire: San Donato, Santa Maria a Carraia, San Severo a Legri.

Starting from the 11th century, the parishes were flanked by towers and castles, symbols of a new aggressive feudal aristocracy without scruples. The Castle of Calenzano, in particular, formed the pivot point of the Florentine defence of the countryside which protected the entrances to the Florentine territory and it is still visible today.

After being subdivided amoung the Counts of Prato and various minor fiefdoms in the 12th and 13th centuries, the area of Calenzano came under the rule of the Republic of Florence and suffered attacks by its enemies. In 1352, the Florentines restored and fortified the village of Calenzano.

In the 1400’s, it prosperred as the seat of a league of the Florentine countryside. Its military role diminished over time and the area demonstrated itself to be mainly agricultural. The flourishing wheat production was the origin of the rise of many water-mills, above all in the 17th century.

The future of Calenzano, however, was in industry. After the founding of a cement factory at the beginning of the 1900’s, from the 60’s, the municipality of Calenzano became a major player in a dazzling entreprenurial development, especially in the areas of mechanics, textiles and chemicals.

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