Piazza Matteotti is nowadays the main square of Loro Ciuffenna. It is the meeting point for the people of Loro to talk about history, have a coffee, joke, relax, get together with friends and acquaintances, enjoy an ice cream and go shopping.
In place of the square there once was a field and a fountain located at the end of Via Dante, where now there is a housewares shop and the Botteghina. During the 19th century, the bridge and the square were built. The square has changed a lot over time. Today there are: the town hall, bars, shops, a bank, a large building that once belonged to the well-known Gino Manneschi (the author of the book Memorie Valdarnesi) and other things. Next to the town hall, on the right, there was a large fountain, where there are now some municipal offices.
Before that, there was a hardware store, a petrol station and a pharmacy.
There was also a hotel-restaurant with another petrol station and other shops nearby.
Until around 1960, a market in Piazza Matteotti used to be held. The new bridge was destroyed during the Second World War and was rebuilt between 1945-1946. Regarding this connection, we were told an anecdote about the Indian troops of the British army who were in charge of the reconstruction. The story tells that they did not know how to use a chisel at first, so they were taught by local stonemasons.
In the largest building of the square, where there is now a bank and a bar, once lived the notary and great history enthusiast Gino Manneschi. For brief periods he also served as mayor; he was highly esteemed by the people of Loro. He wrote a very important book about the history of Loro, entitled Memorie Valdarnesi. He loved to find and study ancient documents. He owned a farm, his vineyard and olive groves stretched up the hill from the Badia area to Gropina. On the ground floor of his building he had cellars with wine and oil barrels inside. Next to the cellars was the large fountain that had been built in 1909 and then demolished in 1945.
Scuola Aperta al Mondo: Le antiche piazze di Loro Ciuffenna, storia e storie. Scuola Primaria di Loro Ciuffenna, IC Venturino Venturi.
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