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Abetone | |
---|---|
Monument in Abetone | |
Coordinates: 44°9′46″N 10°39′55″E / 44.16278°N 10.66528°E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Province | Pistoia (PT) |
Comune | Abetone Cutigliano |
Area | |
• Total | 31.2 km2 (12.0 sq mi) |
Elevation | 1,388 m (4,554 ft) |
Population (31 December 2011) | |
• Total | 687 |
• Density | 22/km2 (57/sq mi) |
Demonym | Abetonesi |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 51021 |
Dialing code | 0573 |
Website | Official website |
Abetone (previously known as Boscolungo-Serrabassa), usually called L’Abetone, is a frazione (fraction) of the comune (municipality) Abetone Cutigliano, in the province of Pistoia in Tuscany.
Until December 31, 2016, it was an Italian comune of around 600 inhabitants, established following the Regio Decreto (law) num. 1297 on June 14, 1936[1], taking a part of the territory of the comune of Fiumalbo and also Cutigliano. On January 1, 2017[2], it merged into the new comune of Abetone Cutigliano. Nestled in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, it is a popular destination both in summer and winter.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Map_of_ex-comune_of_Abetone_%28province_of_Pistoia%2C_region_Tuscany%2C_Italy%29.svg/220px-Map_of_ex-comune_of_Abetone_%28province_of_Pistoia%2C_region_Tuscany%2C_Italy%29.svg.png)
Geography
[edit]Abetone is located in the upper Val di Lima in the Pistoia Mountains at an elevation of 4554 ft above sea level, close to the Abetone Pass on the Tuscan-Emilian border. When it was a “comune” (municipality) it was the highest comune in the region. Behind it there are the mountains Alpe Tre Potenze (6365 ft, one of the highest in Tuscany), Monte Gomito (6207 ft), Selletta (5613 ft), while to the northeast of the village is the Libro Aperto peak (6355 ft). The village is surrounded by the Abetone State Forest, and the Hydrological Services of Tuscany’s Abetone Boscolungo Meteorological Station is nearby.[citation needed]
· Atmospheric diffusion: low, Ibimet CNR 2002
History
[edit]Abetone’s territory has always been (at least since the Roman empire) a pass through the Apennines, so much so that it is said it was used by Hannibal to get into Etruria.[3] From there he took the road Via Claudia Augusta that lead from Tuscany to the Danube; Abetone’s ski resort is a part of Hannibal’s Pass at an altitude of 5899 ft above sea level.[citation needed]
The construction of the road (conceived of at the beginning of the 18th century) that connected the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to the Duchy of Modena through the Apennines began in 1766. The lowest tract called “Serrabassa” by the Modenese and “Boscolungo” by the Tuscans makes up the pass now called Abetone. The project was drafted by Pietro Giardini for the Modenese section and by Leonardo Ximenes for the Tuscan one; that road in fact became known as Via Ximeniana (today’s route 66).[citation needed]
To prevent second thoughts, the two States agreed to launch the road construction concurrently from their own ends. In April of 1766 they began the work, but given that a mile above Fiumalbo the snow was still at shoulder-height, the construction would start at a lower, just as the excavating tools were ready.[citation needed]
The first ground (for the Modenese part) was broken April 28, 1766, just above Fiumalbo and near the place known as Il Baldinare, where they built first housing and sheds for the workers and tools. Six hundred workers divided into six groups, including more than 50 stonecutters, were put to work in two different locations, while the work of the Tuscans was already underway at the ironworks of Mammiano. From there the work expanded with increasing speed toward the Tuscan border and, during the summer, also toward Modena.[citation needed]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Abete_bianco.jpg/220px-Abete_bianco.jpg)
During the construction, they cut down a fir (abete in Italian) so large that it could not even be encircled by the wingspan of six people, giving Abetone (big fir in Italian) its name.[4]
The road was inaugurated on May 1, 1781 and was of great importance because it connected Tuscany not just to Modena but also to Mantua and Austria. At the border, they built two stone pyramids, adorned with the coats of arms of the two duchies.[5]
It was certainly not easy for the other side of the Cutigliano Valley and Lizzano Pistoiese to be cut off. In fact, the two border towns overlooked by the passage of the road were subjected to the downfall of trades that had kept them affluent for centuries. Cutigliano thrived again almost immediately, thanks to the spirit of adaptation of its inhabitants: they were among the first in Italy to take advantage of tourism at the beginning of the nineteenth century and to this day, the town lives on tourism. Lizzano Pistoiese, however, did not have time to recover. In 1814, an enormous landslide slowly swallowed almost the entire village. For many days one could see the bell tower as it seemed to bob on the mud, until it was completely buried.[citation needed]
The opening of the road created the need to populate these mountains, also to guarantee the road maintenance and services (stage stations, customs, etc.). Together with dragoons (that in shifts occupied barracks), civilians—above all, lumberjacks and people to shovel snow—arrived in Abetone.[citation needed]
During winter, it was necessary to shovel snow from the pass and from late spring, when the last trace of snow disappeared, until fall, the inhabitants were busy repairing the damage that the road had suffered because of the inclement weather. Women themselves were busy along with men and shared this hard labor.[citation needed]
The lengths of road to keep free from snow was decided together with the roadman, a kind of tax collector who subcontracted the shoveling to the mountain communities. They stipulated appropriate contracts with penalties in case of any violation.[citation needed]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Abetone%2C_piramidi_dell%27apertura_della_strada_ximeniana_modena-pistoia%2C_1778%2C_05.jpg/220px-Abetone%2C_piramidi_dell%27apertura_della_strada_ximeniana_modena-pistoia%2C_1778%2C_05.jpg)
Two customs offices were created, the Modenese one in the village of Serrabassa just across from the pyramids, and the Tuscan one close to the village of Boscolungo. Near the Tuscan customs, a small church was built that gave rise to the parish of Saint Leopold (named after the Grand Duke of Tuscany).[citation needed]
Abetone has been a tourist destination since the mid-19th century. Among all visitors it is worth mentioning Francesca Alexander, an American woman from Boston. The daughter of a painter and a rich heiress, she would spend her summers in the Pistoiese mountains from a young age; she socialized with the local mountain people (who were often poor) and she helped them to survive. Alexander became a good friend of Beatrice di Pian degli Ontani, the illiterate shepherdess poet whose octaves amazed all the scholars of the era.[citation needed]
The decline of the town began with the unification of Italy and the elimination of regional borders, and was made worse by the construction of the Porrettana Railway that connected Tuscany with Emilia-Romagna.[citation needed]
In 1904, the areas of Abetone began to be used for skiing and the village was rediscovered as a vacation spot both in summer and winter, beginning a revival based on tourism.[citation needed]
Monuments and Places of Interest
[edit]Religious buildings
[edit]Chiesa di San Leopoldo (Church of San Leopoldo)
[edit]The importance of this church lies especially in the circumstances of its origins. Placed at an altitude of more than 3280 ft, its construction in 1782, as a part of the architectural and engineering works that Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo had planned for this area. His efforts culminated with the construction of Abetone’s large street joining Florence to Modena designed by engineer Leonardo Ximenes.[citation needed]
This religious building, designed by Bernardo Fallani with simple architectural elements, established itself in a roadside context. By facilitating contact with Northern Italy and Europe, it tended to provide new routes with all the services tied to the needs of the traveler.[citation needed]
Monuments
[edit]Monumento Internazionale alla Pace (International Peace Monument)
[edit]Gino Terreni of Empoli made this free-standing work of cast bronze and mosaic base in 1994[6]. The sculpture, placed near the entrance of the village’s school, depicts three young nude individuals who free the Doves of Peace. Terreni was commissioned by the Veterans Associations of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. It was inaugurated on June 4, 1994, under the aegis of the UN to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Liberation from Nazi occupation. Also present were diplomatic and military delegations from nations that had soldiers on the Gothic Line, including Germany.[citation needed]
Natural Areas
[edit]- Abetone Nature Reserve
- Campolino Nature Reserve
Census
[edit]The following shows residents of the comune of Abetone from 1861 to 2011, which also included the localities of Bicchiere, Cecchetto, Fontana Vaccaia, La Secchia, Le Regine, Serretto, and Val di Luce.[citation needed]
Demographics
[edit]Residents surveyed[7]
![]() | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Ethnicities
[edit]According to ISTAT data as of December 31, 2010, the foreign resident population was 35 people. The nationality mainly represented (based on the percentage of the total resident population) was Romanian (17; 2.44%).[citation needed]
Human Geography
[edit]City planning
[edit]The residential area of Abetone is made of three adjoining localities that are welded together in urban continuity: the very center of Abetone (167 residents)[8] and the ex-districts of Boscolungo (51 residents)[8], and also the historic core of the comune, Consuma (30 residents)[8], today considered neighborhoods of the village.[citation needed]
Economy
[edit]Tourism
[edit]Winter in Abetone
[edit]Abetone is the principal center of the of the ski area of the same name, among the most important of the Northern Apennines, made up of approximately 31 miles of trails for a total of around 30 tracks, serviced by 22 ski lifts managed by the consortium Multipass.[citation needed]
The ski area is subdivided in 3 principal zones:[9]
- The first zone, pointed toward the Tuscan side of Abetone consists of historic trails that are made up of Selletta and Chierroni—two easy blue (beginner) tracks that run through the forest, and Riva—a red (advanced) course that reaches altitudes of up to 3937 ft. Besides those, there are some variants that connect different tracks, like the red course Foresto that connects Selletta and Riva. The zone is serviced by an enclosed chairlift and two two-seated chairlifts.[9]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Zeno_Col%C3%B2.jpg/220px-Zeno_Col%C3%B2.jpg)
- The second zone of trails is on the Emilian side of the comune and is composed of the three most well-known tracks in Abetone, the three Zeno—designed by the skiing champion Zeno Colò. The tracks, one black (very advanced) and two red (advanced), twist and turn through the forest from altitudes of 6200 ft to 4265 ft. The two simpler courses are Pulicchio and Stucchi, a track of medium difficulty. The machinery includes a four-seated covered chairlift, a ski lift, a ski tow, and an eight-seated cable car.[9]
- The third zone includes the trails of Val di Luce; it consists of four principle tracks (Passo d’Annibale, Alpe delle Tre Potenze, Monte Gomito, Sprella) that are easy or medium difficulty and serviced by three four-seated chairlifts, one three-seated chairlift, and two ski tows.[9]
Summer in Abetone
[edit]During the summer, Abetone is noted for its many summer sport options[10]. Among these is hiking on the slope of Monte Gomito, Monte Cimone, and the moderately difficult climb on the Libro Aperto mountain. Abetone also offers mountain bike excursions, tennis, and soccer.[citation needed]
Administration
[edit]Quello che segue è l'elenco degli amministratori del comune di Abetone fino al 2017, anno dell'istituzione del comune di Abetone Cutigliano.[citation needed]
Term | Name | Party | Position | |
June 26, 1985 | May 22, 1990 | Marcello Fontana | - | Mayor |
May 22, 1990 | April 24, 1995 | Riccardo Rastelli | Italian Communist Party, Democratic Left | Mayor |
April 24, 1995 | June 14, 1999 | Riccardo Rastelli | Democratic Left | Mayor |
June 14, 1999 | June 14, 2004 | Giuseppe Montagna | Center-right | Mayor |
June 14, 2004 | June 8, 2009 | Giuseppe Montagna | Civic list | Mayor |
June 8, 2009 | May 26, 2014 | Giampiero Danti | Civic list: united for our future | Mayor |
May 26, 2014 | December 31, 2016 | Giampiero Danti | Civic list: united for our future | Mayor |
Sports
[edit]Running
[edit]The 50 km (31 mile) Pistoia-Abetone Ultra Marathon runs through Abetone.[11]
Skiing
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Mountains_abetone.jpg/220px-Mountains_abetone.jpg)
Abetone has hosted the Women’s World Cup for alpine skiing five times (1968, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975). Today the Tuscan competitions regularly take place at the European Cup, Carving Cup, and the famous competition “Pinocchio sugli Sci”, the international championship for kids in which groups from all over the world participate.[12]
Cycling
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Coppi_Bartali_1940.jpg/220px-Coppi_Bartali_1940.jpg)
The first passage of the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy) through Abetone happened May 28, 1928. Surprisingly, Domenico Piemontesi overtook for first place the favorite Alfredo Binda, succeeding to beat him at the finish line at the Milan final. The 1940 leg was also significant because Fausto Coppi won his first maglia rosa (pink jersey) that he then defended until the Milan final. Between the late 1940s and the beginning of the 1950s, Abetone was most frequently included in the route, and was the most repeated scene of showdowns between Coppi and Gino Bartali.[13]
Abetone has been the finish line four times for the Tour of Italy, the first in 1954, the most recent in 2015.[citation needed]
Tappe del Giro d'Italia con arrivo all'Abetone | |||||
Year | Stage | Start | Mile | Stage Winner | Maglia Rosa |
1954 | 11 | Cesenatico | 143 | ![]() |
Carlo Clerici ![]() |
1959 | 3 | Salsomaggiore Terme | 112 | Charly Gaul ![]() |
Charly Gaul![]() |
2000 | 9 | Prato | 87 | Francesco Casagrande![]() |
Francesco Casagrande![]() |
2015 | 5 | La Spezia | 94 | Jan Polanc ![]() |
Alberto Contador![]() |
Soccer
[edit]The soccer team that competes in First Category (2008-2009 season) is called Appennino Pistoiese born of the fusion of four teams of the comunes of Abetone, Cutigliano, San Marcello Pistoeise, and Piteglio. At the end of the 2008-2009 season, the amaranth team got into the Promozione championship, winning their round, totaling 59 points from 16 wins, 11 ties, and only 3 losses.[citation needed]
Other Information
[edit]In summer of 1903, like in other brief periods of his life, Giacomo Puccini spent part of his summer in Boscolungo (a hamlet 0.62 miles from Abetone).[14] While composing Madama Butterfly, he stayed in a house (today private property) along the state route on which there is now a plaque cared for by the Comune of Abetone. To additionally commemorate the presence of Puccini in Abetone, the Comune and the Italian Association of Music Schools has held a musical event called “Puccini and His Mountains” since 2010.[15]
Notes
[edit]- ^ "*** NORMATTIVA ***". www.normattiva.it. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ "Abetone e Cutigliano: sta per nascere il comune unico. Lo diventerà dal 2017". gonews.it. 12 Jan 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Storia di Abetone". www.comune.abetonecutigliano.pt.it (in Italian). 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "La storia dell'Abetone". web.archive.org. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ "ITALIAPEDIA | Comune di Abetone - Descrizione". www.italiapedia.it. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "Monumento Internazionale alla Pace (Abetone)". ViaggiArt (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "Statistiche Istat". dati.istat.it. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ a b c from ISTAT 2011 census
- ^ a b c d "Skiing in Abetone | Visit Tuscany". www.visittuscany.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "Abetone Summer". Abetone. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "Home". Pistoia Abetone (in Italian). Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ "ITALIAPEDIA | Comune di Abetone - Relazioni". www.italiapedia.it. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Rino, Negri. "Abetone, sulle tracce di Fausto e Gino". archiviostorico.gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ ".:: LAND OF PUCCINI ::". landofpuccini.it. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "Regioni d'Italia - Firenze". calameo.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
Bibliography
[edit]· E. Repetti, Historic and geographic history of Tuscany, Florence, 1843, vol. 5, p. 73.
· N. Rauty - A.Preti, Investigations and problems for the recovery of the village, Savings Bank of Pistoia and Pescia, 1975, pp. 67
· P. Bellucci, The story of a street. The two centuries of the Abetone pass, Abetone, Abetone Independent Agency of Vacationing and Tourism, 1980.
· Raugeri Pasquinucci,P. and S. Zanni Abetone. History, food, lies, ed Bandecchi & Vitali, 1987
· D. Barsanti - L. Rombai, Leonardo Ximenes. A scientist in Tuscany under the Lorraines in the Seventeenth Century, Florence, Medicean Edition, 1987.
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