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Inhabitants in 1991: 13.747
 The
municipal territory of Vinci extends for 54,42 square kilometres on the
lower slopes of Monte Albano, in a hilly zone. Medieval Podesta Office
(but until the XV century the municipalities of Collegonzi and Vitolini
were distinct from Vinci), in 1774 it was incorporated by Cerreto Guidi
and only in 1860 was it reconstituted in autonomous community. From
1954 on the occasion of the celebration of the five hundredth anniversary
of the birth of Leonardo, Vinci was decreed a city.
There is no note of the Vinci territory before the year 1000. Castle,
property of the Guidi Counts, it became part of the Fiorentino county
in two phases, in 1255 and in 1273, when all the various branches
of the powerful family decided to transfer all their possessions in Valdarno
Inferiore to Firenze.
 The
population of Vinci rebelled against the Fiorentino dominion, in 1315,
after the victory of Uguccione della Faggiola at Montecatini, managing
then (even though the following year the star himself waned) to
maintain for some time their own independence under Lord Binduccio
degli Adimari, a flourishing Fiorentino. But it was only a brief period:
Adimari made a pact with Firenze
and again ceded the castle for money. Subsequently Vinci distinguished
itself in the bitter defence against the mercenaries of Giovanni Acuto
(1364) and again in the armed repression of a plan by Pistoia who intended
to make it surrender and then to assign it to the Lordship of Giovanni
dell'Agnello (1368). The period of struggle for the territorial supremacy
ceased, Vinci with its armed fortress remained solidly in the hands of
Firenze,
who periodically sent them an actual Castilian. Its fame was due above
all, as is noted, to the birth of Leonardo, the artist and scientist
genius who was born there in 1452, natural son of a Notary.
Places to visit:
Guidi Castle, constructed
in the XII century, it was restored in 1940, The interior is the Seat
of the Museo Leonardiano which collects the models of the instruments
and the inventions made on the designs of Leonardo; and the Leonardiana
Library research centre for the study of the grand artist-inventor.
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Historical info reproduced upon authorization of
Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e
Giuridici
Picture by Sandro Santioli
Translated by Ann Mountford |
