San Casciano Val di Pesa -
is on the highest of the hills separating Val di Pesa from
Val di Greve, on Via Cassia.
Since Roman times it was a post station
or "mansio" on the hill just before the descent
to Florence begins. The earliest written documentation dates
back to 1043.
It is a parchment conserved in the
nearby Abbey of Passignano. However, it seems that the place
was inhabited since the 7th century BC, as shown by several
Etruscan finds.
In the 12th century, San Casciano
was a little village clustered around the church. Because
of its location and its proximity to Florence, it was frequently
devastated.
The first time was in 1312, when Emperor
Arrigo VII freed Florence from siege and occupied San Casciano.
It was very badly damaged, as the emperor sent his brother
Baldwin of Luxemburg, arch bishop of Treviri, to occupy and
destroy all the castles in Val di Pesa and Val di Greve.
Not much later, it was again destroyed
by Castruccio Castracani, at war with Florence. Finally, in
1343, Gualtieri di Brienne, duke of Athens, having conquered
Florence, became aware of the strategic importance of the
town, and had a first circle of fortifications built.
Work was interrupted, however, when
Brienne himself was driven out of Florence. Only some time
later did the Florentine Republic resume the building work,
that was completed in September 1356.
From that time on, San Casciano resisted
the armies of the times thanks to its impregnable fortress.
After the first half of the 16th Century, once the State of
Tuscany has been consolidated under the rule of the Medici,
San Casciano acting as a sentry for Florence and the gates,
towers and ramparts were gradually demolished. The castles
in the surroundings were turned into spacious villas where
rich Florentine families spent their leisure time. The Della
Robbia furnaces opened, and did a lot of work in Casa-vecchia,
San Giovanni in Sugana and other churches and villas.
Where is San Casciano Val di Pesa: is located in the
south of Florence province, on the border with the province
of Siena.
How to reach San Casciano Val di Pesa: From Florence,
direction south on the road Firenze > Siena, exit San Casciano
16 Km
Nearby: Visit the Chianti area, San Gimignano
Distances: Florence 16 Km - Siena 45 Km - Arezzo 74
Km - Lucca 85 Km
Correct name is San Casciano Val di Pesa
Common mistakes are Cascino, Cacciano, Canciano, Caciano,
Pessa, Peza
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San Casciano Val di Pesa
- Florence - Tuscany Italy
San Casciano Val di Pesa 
