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History of Londra in the Val di Sieve near Florence

The territory of Londa was an Etruscan “pago” (rural district) as far back as the 6th century, as is attested in some sepulcural cippus, the most important of which was discovered in the hamlet of Trebbio in 1871, and is preserved at the Museo Archeologico di Firenze (Archaeological Museum of Florence).

In the 3rd century A.D., the territory of Londa was conquered by the Romans. According to popular tradition, one of the first “tourists” to visit Londa was Hannibal with his military troups. He is said to have passed through on his way to Arezzo: after all, this road, crossing the Mugello and the Sieve Valley, was certainly the most secure way to reach the Arezzo area avoiding the Consular military.

Around the year 1000, Londa became dominion of the Guidi Counts, masters of the Casentino. They built the first nucleus of what is now the chief municipality on an island at the junction of the Rincine and Moscia streams, which in former times flowed at a higher level. Hence the name “Londa” (the wave): initially called “Isola” (island), the town later became “L’onda”.

The coat of arms of the municipality – a silver wave on a blue field – brings to mind the birth of the place-name. After having obtained podestà over the territory of S. Leolino from the Florentine Republic in the 14th century, Simone and Giovanni, sons of Count Roberto da Battifolle, rebelled against Florence.

In 1375, the Florentine Republic recovered the territory of Londa, protecting it and promoting its expansion. Cosimo I de’ Medici destroyed all the fortresses scattered over the territory, but some remains are still visible today in the walls of rural houses.

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