Elevation 280 m (920 ft) Time zone CET (UTC+1) Local time Monday 10:16 AM Postal code 52040 Dialling code 0575 | Demonym(s) Civitellini Area 100.4 km² | |
Frazioni Albergo, Badia al Pino (communal seat), Ciggiano, Oliveto, Pieve a Maiano, Pieve al Toppo, San Pancrazio, Spoiano, Tegoleto, Tuori, Viciomaggio. Weather 9°C, Wind S at 8 km/h, 78% Humidity | ||
Civitella in Val di Chiana (official name), often also Civitella di Val di Chiana, is a comune in the province of Arezzo, south of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy. It is one of the best-preserved of the network of Lombard fortresses of the 6th and the 7th century in central Italy, strategically placed to control the whole territory. The characteristic elliptical shape of the military settlements can still be seen in the layout of the town walls.
Contents
- Map of Civitella in Val di Chiana Province of Arezzo Italy
- History
- Main sights
- Twin towns Sister cities
- References
Map of Civitella in Val di Chiana, Province of Arezzo, Italy
History
Already inhabited in Roman times, it was occupied and fortified by the Lombards in the 6th century. In the 11th century it became a possessment of the Bishops of Arezzo, and renamed "Civitella del Vescovo" ("Little Bishop's City"). In the 13th century the city was destroyed after the battle of Pieve al Toppo, cited by Dante Alighieri and fought nearby between Arezzo and Siena. After the Aretine defeat at Campaldino (1289) the city was annexed by Florence. In 1311 Arezzo regained it, holding until 1348, whenceforth it remained the seat of a Florentine podestà. Civitella enjoys one of the most scenic views of the Arezzo valley.
On 29 June 1944, 244 citizens of Civitella were massacred by Hermann Göring Division, in retaliation for the killing of two German soldiers by the hands of partisans. In 1963 the city received the Gold Medal for Civilian Valour. A book by Enzo Gradassi about Elga Elmqvist (the Swede) and Giovanni Cau recoups the historic events that led to the massacre. A trailer for the book can be found here:
The city council has also opened a room of memories.
On 10 October 2006, SS Max Josef Milde was convicted by the Italian military court of La Spezia for his role in the Civitella massacre. The Italian Court of Cassation in October 2008 ruled that Germany was to pay one million dollars to 203 victims of the massacre. However, the International Court of Justice later ruled that Italy was required to void the judgment out of respect for Germany's state immunity
Main sights
Twin towns — Sister cities
Civitella in Val di Chiana is twinned with: