Colle di Val d'Elsa

The area was settled by man from at least the 4th millennium BC. The first mentions of the city are from the 9th century AD. The town developed along the river from the 11th century onwards, building an artificial canal to power various industrial activities, such as wheat mills and paper factories. In 1269, it was the seat of the famous battle of Colle di Val d'Elsa, referenced in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, during the wars of Guelphs and Ghibellines and in 1479 it was besieged by Neapolitan troops. From the 14th century it was a possession of Florence and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the unification of Italy. In the 20th century, it became an important industrial centre. During World War II it was bombed by Allied aircraft. ==Main sights==

The oldest part of the town is "Colle Alta", with a well-preserved medieval centre. The village is entered through the ancient and monumental Porta Nova and winds its long and narrow way in a sequence of fine 16th- and 17th-century noble houses (notable are Palazzo Usimbardi, Palazzo Buoninsegni and the Town Hall) to the Palazzo Campana, which marks the entry to the Castle, the oldest part of Colle. Here, the village is characterized by narrow paved lanes, 15th- and 16th-century noble houses (such as Palazzo Luci, Palazzo Morozzi, Palazzo Giusti, Palazzo Dini) and tower-houses, including the one where Arnolfo di Cambio was born. At the centre of the old town stands the Colle di Val d'Elsa Cathedral. Overlooking the valley stands the Convent of St. Francis. In addition to its historic centre, Colle di Val d'Elsa has also been shaped by urban regeneration projects based on contemporary art and architecture. ==Frazioni==

The municipality is formed by the city of Colle di Val d'Elsa and the towns and villages (frazioni) of Bibbiano, Borgatello, Campiglia dei Foci, Castel San Gimignano, Collalto, Gracciano dell'Elsa, Le Grazie, Mensanello and Quartaia. Other notable villages within the comune include Boscona, Buliciano, Coneo, Lano, Montegabbro, Onci, Partena, Paurano, Sant'Andrea and Scarna. == Notable people ==

• Arnolfo di Cambio, architect and sculptor • Cennino Cennini, painter • Bartolomeo Scala, politician, author and historian • Alessandra Scala, humanist and scholar • Francesco Campana, statesman • Isabella Cervoni, poet • Pietro Usimbardi, bishop of Arezzo and secretary to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany • Ferdinando Morozzi, cartographer and architect • Antonio Salvetti, architect and painter • Tarquinia Tarquini, dramatic soprano • Mino Maccari, painter, engraver and writer • Romano Bilenchi, novelist, short story writer and essayist ==Twin towns==

• Bir Gandus, Western Sahara ==References==