Poggibonsi -The inner old town
of Poggibonsi actually corresponds to the ancient urban layout
of Borgo Marturi, a settlement belonging to the overhanging
Abbey and Castle bearing the same name.
As early as the beginning of The 12th
century, the village was an essential cross-roads on the ancient
Francigena Road (Frankish Road) and an unavoidable thoroughfare
at the borders of the States of Siena, Volterra amd Florence,
where the Staggia amd Foci streams flow into the Elsa River.
Because of its crucial position the town repeatedly experienced,
over the centuries, destrution, uprising and disaster.
In 1115 the Florentine army took over the hilltop castle
and destroyed it, and the people were compelled to relocate
in the village at the foot of the hill. As a consequence,
in 1155 Guido Guerra, count Guidi, in agreement with the Sienese,
who were to be allotted one-eighth of the settlement, began
building a new town on the Bonizio hillock (poggio). The town
was ruled over by Ghibellines, as opposed to Guelph Florence.
The Florentines could not ignore this event: in 1270, when
the town was in full flourishing, they destroyed it and forbade
any re-settlement the area. In 1313, the Emperor Henry VII
revived the hope of Poggibonsi citizens who the meantime had
gone back to their old village, now re-christened as Poggiobonizio,
while reconstructing the hilltop town which, in his honour,
would be named Poggio Imperiale (Imperial Hillock)
The dispute with Florence, however, was to continue for a
long time, fuelled as it was by the incessant and powerful
pressure exerted by the Sienese in border-related matters,
always accompanied by destruction, with walls and defensive
works knocked down. This was also true in the new or, better,
restored, Piano (hill-foot) settlement where the population,
after being decimated by widespread dreadful outbreaks of
plague, had began to settle and expand again. Between 1340
and 1360, the statute-based Communes saw the light, here as
in other adjacent towns.
How to reach Poggibonsi: From Siena take direction
Florence. After 23 Km you will find the exit for Poggibonsi
Where is Poggibonsi: is located in the north of Siena
province, between the Chianti area and val D' Elsa, in the
border with the province of Florence. See
the map
Nearby: Visit the Chianti Area with the town of Castellina
in Chianti, Radda in Chianti etc. San Gimignano is only 11
Km away
Distances: Siena 25 Km - Florence 41 Km - Pisa 80
Km - Arezzo 105 Km
Correct name is Poggibonsi
Common mistakes are Pogibonsi, Pogibonzi, Poggibonzi,
Poggiobonsi
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Poggibonsi
- Siena - Tuscany Italy
Poggibonsi 
