Spas and the Stone Age in Montecatini Terme
If you want to go to a spa and spend time in a region that has a history dating literally back to the Stone Age, then you might try one of the Montecatini Terme hotels. Today, Montecatini Terme is known for its tourism and its spa, although this Medieval town can record its history from the Mesolithic period, although most likely, the area contained nomadic hunters since the Paleolithic era (for those interested, the time periods are as follows: Paleolithic [35,000-10,000 B.C.], Mesolithic [7,000-4,000 B.C.] and Neolithic [4,000-1,500 B.C.]).
Montecatini Terme is set in the hills of the Valdinievole. In the 14th Century, Florence’s plans to dominate the area was slowed by the revolt of the Ghibellines. The leader of this revolt, Uguccione of Faggiola, in 1312, was the imperial vicar and master of Lucca and Pisa, which led to the war that would decide the future fate of Tuscany. Three years later, in 1315, Uguccione of Faggiola tried to attack Montecatini, which was considered a stronghold, because of its location. The siege failed. However, on August 29 of that year, Uguccione took the Guelfi army by surprise, leaving in his wake casualties and prisoners numbering in the thousands. In the next year, Uguccione fled and Castruccio Castracani of Antelminelli replaced him. Over time, though Florence fought to regain its power in an attempt to recpature the town of Montecatini. Over a hundred years later, in 1530, the baths were built to hold the spa waters. From these turbulent times, the town grew to become what it is today: The town gathered restaurants and theaters and a casino. Toward the end of the 1800s and the early part of the 1900s, celebrities began to travel to the town, and it became known as a meeting place for the well known, like Giuseppe Verdi and Luigi Pirandello, so much so that now the town is linked by its thermal spas and a number of personalities. Here are just a few.
See if you recognize anyone: Galileo Chini, a painter; Alessandro Bicchierai, a doctor and scientist; Natalino Mucci, a painter; Dino Scalabrino, a doctor; Tiziano Panconi, an art historian; Raouil Bellandi, the founder of Montecatini Sporting Club; Romulus Diecidue, a teacher and politician; Peter Grocco, a doctor; Sirio Maccioni, an internationally known restaurant owner.
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