Beautiful Tuscany

The first mention of a castle appears in documents of the 8th century, but the city began to take shape after 1119 around the Parish Church of Sant’Andrea. Feud of the Guidi counts, in 1182 it swore allegiance to the Florentine Republic. After the battle of Monteaperti in 1260, which marked the defeat of the Florentine Guelps, the famous Ghibelline Parliament was held in the present Palazzo Ghibellino. After that Florence was saved thanks to the generous words of Farinata degli Uberti or dei Leoni. The most important historical buildings of the city overlook the arcaded square: The Palazzo Ghibellino, seat of the Museo Civico di Paleontologia and the Palazzo Pretorio and the adjacent Convent of the Augustinians (16th century), today seat of the public library R. Fucini. Empoli and Certaldo are cities of the artichoke .This artichoke has a deep green colour with purple leaves and has a smooth, sweet-bitter flavour. This artichoke is available from April until June.

Monuments, churches and museums

Pontorme in Empoli
Pontorme is a hamlet of Empoli, on the way to Florence, where the painter Jacopo Carrucci, known as Pontormo (1494-1556) , was born in 1494. In the middle of the village, the native house of the artist, recently restored, is located. Inside you can find a collection of his paintings.

Opening hours Native House Jacopo Carucci
Thursday and Friday 10 am – 1 pm, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays 16 - 19
tel.+39 0571 757729

Museo della Collegiata di Sant’Andrea
In this ancient museum, founded in 1859, you can admire several particular artpieces from the 14th until the 16th century.

Opening hours Museo della Collegiata di Sant’Andrea
Daily 9 am – 12 pm, closed on Monday
Piazza Farinata degli Uberti e Piazza della Prepositura, 3, tel. +39 0571 76284

Collegiata di Sant’Andrea
However this church was already mentioned in a document from 780, it was finished in 1093. The two-colour façade has a Florentine-Roman style.

Chiesa di Santo Stefano
This church is from the 14th – 15th century. Inside you can admire some frescoes and paintings from the 17th century.

Casa natale di Ferruccio Busoni
The native house of Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) is situated on the Piazza della Vittoria. Today it is a museum dedicated to this marvellous musician (visit to be booked beforehand).

Museo Civico di Paleontologia - Municipal museum of paleontology
An educative walk through the time on the basis of fossils

Opening hours Museo Civico di Paleontologia
Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 5 – 8 pm (closed in August),July: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9 pm – 12 am
Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, 7 – Empoli