CERTALDO

Certaldo is divided in a high, medieval part, called Certaldo Alto, encircled from its fortified walls and from a modern part below in the valley. Certaldo is the place where was born Giovanni Boccaccio and still today its ancient part maintains the original structure of a medieval village with the Palazzo Pretorio, the monasteries, the churches, the towers and the fortifications, characteristic is the red color of the bricks of the buildings and the roads. The city probably had origin in the Etruscan time, even if the first historical document cament is dated in 1164 when Federico Barbarossa gave the territory to Conti Alberti. In 1184 Certaldo was conquered from Florence, the city had a fast increase after the destruction of Semifonte in 1202. In 1425 Certaldo became the center of vicariate and the most important center of the Valdelsa, of the Val di Pesa and of part of the Valdarno. This role was maintained during the Republic and the Medicean period. Certaldo is the place of birth of Giovanni Boccaccio, one of the greatest Italian poets and medieval men of letters, he was the author of the celebre Decameron (written between 1349 and 1351), he spent in Certaldo the last years of his life in a house (House of Boccaccio) today a museum and a visitabile library. Boccaccio was buried to Certaldo in 1375. Some km from Certaldo along the road to Marcialla are the ruins of the castle of Pogni. Every year in the last days of July Certaldo accommodates a manifestation called “Mercantia” partially theatre, partially feast and partially market with actors and acrobats of road, singers and craftsmen who show their jobs.

The more remarkable building of Certaldo is the Palazzo Pretorio or Palazzo of the Vicariato, is situated on the higher point of the hill of Certaldo, the Palace was constructed in 12th century. It was the residence of the florentine governors. On the facade of the Palace are various coats of arms and insigns in marble, stone and ceramics (some of the Della Robbia school) of the families of the governors who were in the government of Certaldo. The largest coat of arms in the center of the facade is the Medicean coat of arms. On the right of the facade is a tower with a clock of 1484. Inside of the Palace, it's a museum, where are visible works of Pier Francesco Fiorentino and the “Tabernacolo dei Giustiziati” of Benozzo Gozzoli and its school. A section of the museum is dedicated to the Etruscan and Roman finds discoveries in the zone. The Palace encloses also an interesting series of rooms (Atrio, Camera delle Sentenze, Sala delle Udienze, prison, Sala Grande, Sala del Consiglio, chapel and accommodation) where can be admire frescoes of the 15th and 16th century. Interesting is also the cloister of 14th century.

The Church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo (13th century) that it accommodates the cenotaph of Boccaccio and the grave of the Beata Giulia. In the church can be admired frescoes of the '300 and terrecotte robbiane. In the historical center are interesting houses-tower, between which is that one which accommodated Giovanni Boccaccio, one of the greater poets of the medieval Italian literature. Certaldo is the center of the "Centro Nazionale di studi sul Boccaccio" and accommodates a library with several editions and numerous translations of the “Decameron”.

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