Termas de Monsummano

Monsummano Terme es un municipio situado en la provincia de Pistoia , Toscana , en el centro de Italia . Se encuentra en Valdinievole y es un popular balneario.

Está compuesto por dos núcleos separados: Monsummano Alto , de origen etrusco y con un castillo (probablemente de origen lombardo ) y una línea de murallas, que domina el Monsummano inferior , construido a partir de 1602 alrededor de un santuario encargado por Fernando I, Gran Duque de Toscana .

Fue el lugar de nacimiento del actor francés Yves Montand y del poeta italiano Giuseppe Giusti .

El distrito está situado en la zona centro-oriental de Valdinievole y limita al norte con las colinas de Montalbano, al sur con el humedal de Padule di Fucecchio, al oeste con la Piana di Lucca y al este con las zonas semimontañosas de la ciudad de Larciano.

Dada su proximidad al río Padule, la zona cuenta con una rica flora y fauna, y es punto de encuentro para observadores de aves. Los ríos son muy cortos, siendo el arroyo Candalla el más destacado, que atraviesa el centro de la ciudad. Las montañas están formadas por la cadena montañosa de Montalbano, donde se ubica Vinci , y Monsummano Alto, de 340 metros (1120 pies) de altura , conocido por la inconfundible forma de sus canteras, ahora en desuso, que han dado lugar a pendientes inusualmente pronunciadas en la montaña. 

En la época etrusca y romana, Valdinievole fue clasificada como un lugar de tránsito, con algunos lugares de descanso sagrados, como lo demuestra una pieza de arte de bronce del siglo III a. C., el promachos de Hércules, encontrado en 1887 en Castelmartini y que hoy se puede encontrar en el museo de la ciudad. Volviendo a los sitios arqueológicos romanos (Villa San Paolo en Pozzarello, Vaiano y Segalare), en las laderas del Monte Albano.

The settlement of the castle of Monsummano Alto is documented from 1260, but probably existed since the previous century, or, as some have suggested due to the topology from the Lombard era. The castle was at the center of battles between Florence and Lucca, with its final conquest in 1331. The flat area was swampy (which can still be seen today through the Fucecchio Padule, close by), which became a human settlement in the second half of the 16th century with the construction of several farms and houses. The lower section of the town dates mainly to the seventeenth century, when, after the miraculous apparition of the Virgin on 9 June 1573, the Grand Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany started the construction of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fontenuova (1602-1605) as well as other buildings for the reception of pilgrims, such as Osteria dei Pellegrini, now the city's Museum.

During the 19th century Monsummano Terme was home of writer and former fascist politician Ferdinando Martini (his former Villa Renatico-Martini is now houses the Museum of Contemporary Art and of the Twentieth Century, and museum dedicated to the patriotic poet Giuseppe Giusti. His birthplace and a memorial at the center of the square have both become dedicated to him. The monument also symbolizes his distaste for the clergy, showing the poet facing way from the church.

The city, after a flow emigration with the advent of Fascism, became a place of immigration in the years 1951–61, mainly from southern Italy, passing rapidly from 9,708 residents (in 1951) to 11,631 (1961), due to the footwear sectors rise.

Monsummano, as well as being the center of one of the most important Italian footwear districts in the past (from the 1920s and even parts of the 19th century), is a spa town with two natural caves: Grotta Giusti and Grotta Parlanti, the latter recently undergoing renovation following the closure.

Other sights include:

• The medieval castle and fortifications. The elliptical shape have led to suppose a Lombard origin, but the castle is mentioned for the first time in the 11th century. It was occupied by the Florentines in 1314, but was recaptured one year later by Castruccio Castracani after the battle of Montecatini. Florence recaptured it in 1331. Of the castle today several gates and long stretches of the walls, partly covered by vegetation, as well as a single tower, remain.
• Church of San Nicolao (12th century), included in the castle. It houses a 14th- to 15th-century wooden crucifix.
• Sanctuary of Maria Santissima della Fontenuova (17th century). This sanctuary was built in 1602 by the Grand Duke Ferdinand I De Medici and is the located at the heart of Monsummano Terme. Grand Duke Ferdinand I appointed the construction of the Sanctuary exactly where the miraculous spring appeared.
• San Michele e Lorenzo; Church has a lunette painted by Giusto Utens and a Madonna with Child and Saints attributed by some to Piero di Cosimo.
• Villa medicea di Montevettolini. Located in the city of Montevettolini, it was founded around 1600 by architect Gherardo Mechini.
• Grotta Giusti, thermal spa and resort
• Theater Yves Montand
• Trekking and birdwatching site on Monsummano hills next to Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa & Resort
• Villa Renatico Martini

• Giuseppe Giusti, poet
• Ferdinando Martini, writer and politician
• Yves Montand (Ivo Livi), singer, actor
• Fabio Galante, football player
• Giampaolo Pazzini, football player

• Décines-Charpieu, France

• Audio Analogue
• Polli (company)

• Rauty, Natale (1989). Monsummano dalle origini all'età comunale. Pistoia: Società pistoiese di storia patria.
• Rauty, Natale (1986). L'archivio del comune di Monsummano Terme. Monsummano Terme: Assessorato alla cultura of Monsummano Terme.

• Valdinievoleest
• Tourism in Monsummano