Altopascio

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Altopascio
Altopascio panorama e porta.JPG
Church of San Jacopo Maggiore.
Location of Altopascio
Altopascio
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Altopascio
Location of Altopascio in Italy
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Altopascio
Altopascio (Tuscany)
Coordinates: 43°49′N10°41′E / 43.817°N 10.683°E / 43.817; 10.683
Country Italy
Region Tuscany
Province Lucca (LU)
Frazioni Badia Pozzeveri, Marginone, Spianate
Government
  MayorSara D'Ambrosio
Area
[1]
  Total28 km2 (11 sq mi)
Elevation
19 m (62 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2017) [2]
  Total15,572
  Density560/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Altopascesi
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
55011
Dialing code 0583
Patron saintSt. Jacopo
Saint dayJuly 25

Altopascio is a comune in the Province of Lucca in the Tuscany region of Italy with a population of 15,572.

Contents

History

Already inhabited in Roman times, Altopascio gained in importance due to its Spedale (hostel, first mentioned in 1084) for the pilgrims who travelled on the Via Francigena, leading from France to Rome. This formed the basis of the later Order of Saint James of Altopascio. This, founded by Matilda of Canossa between 1070 and 1080, was one of the first of the Military Orders; it existed for four hundred years, in which it had considerable social, political and military influence, and though gaining land in various European countries retained its strong ties to the town where it was founded.

It is famous for the battle of Altopascio in 1325 in which the Ghibelline leader Castruccio Castracani defeated the Florentines Guelphs led by Ramon de Cardona. Thanks to his victory, he became duke of Lucca.

The Spedale declined starting from the 16th century, until Grand Duke Peter Leopold suppressed it in 1773, to favour that in Pescia.

Main sights

Sister cities

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References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Altopascio at Wikimedia Commons