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History of Montaione in the Elsa Valley, Tuscany

Numerous archaeological finds in the area testify to Etruscan and Roman colonies. The first attestation of Montaione – the place-name in antiquity was “Montacunni” – is found in an act of donation in 981.

The chief municipality was founded in 1257, freeing itself from the subjection of the great feudal lords and the local dynasties, but not the jurisdiction of San Miniato. A difficult tutelage, which was disagreeded upon by the citizens. In 1268, they turned themselves over to San Gimignano, which provoked an old dispute. It was later resolved by Florence, which sided with San Miniato.

In 1370, Florence occupied the area and subjected San Miniato to annex its own county of Montaione, forced to make an act of devotion and electing it a podestà seat. It was occupied in 1529, by the Imperials of Charles V, on their way to Florence.

The comunity was established in 1774, by the Lorena and was reorganized in 1876, with the transfer of the hamlet to Castelfiorentino and above all in 1917, when Gambassi became a municipality, incorporating others. In 1944, the city walls of Montaione were bombed by German troups, who destroyed the city gates and most of the towers in the walls.

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