Empoli

**Empoli** is a town in Tuscany, Italy, about 30 km southwest of Florence. It is 30 m above sea-level, to the south of the Arno. The plain  of the town has been usable for agriculture since Roman times. Empoli is on the main railway line from Florence to Pisa and is well joined with the city of Siena.

Empoli has a long tradition as an agricultural centre. It has given its name to a local kind of artichoke.

## History

Empoli was already settled in the time of the early Roman Empire, and still existed in the 4th century AD. The river near the city was a good route for the trade of agricultural products, together with the local amphorae.
Since the 8th century Empoli grew as a town around the castle, known as _Emporium_ or _Empolis_. In 1119 it was controlled by Guidi. In 1182, it went under Florentine rule. In 1260, after the Battle of Montaperti, Empoli was the seat of a famous council in which Farinata degli Uberti opposed the destruction of Florence. Later Empoli became an important fortress.

## Important places and monuments

- The _Piazza Farinata degli Uberti_, also known as _Piazza dei Leoni_ ("Lions Square"), in the middle there is a fountain by Luigi Pampaloni (1827). Here lies the _Collegiata di Sant'Andrea_, the main city's monument.
- The _Palazzo Ghibellino_ is the former palace of the Guidi counts. It was probably built in the 11th century.
- The _Palazzo Pretorio_ was the Town Hall in the Middle Ages.

In the _frazione_ of Pontorme is the house of the painter Pontormo.

## Important people from Empoli

- Giovanni da Empoli (1483–1518), navigator
- Jacopo Carrucci, better known as Pontormo (1494–1556), painter
- Jacopo da Empoli (1551–1640), painter
- Alessandro Marchetti (1633–1714), mathematician and writer
- Giuseppe del Papa (1648–1735), doctor and philosopher
- Ippolito Neri (1652–1708), doctor and poet
- Renato Fucini (1843–1921), writer
- Giuliano Vanghetti (1861–1940), orthopaedist
- Ferruccio Busoni (1866–1924), musician
- Alberto Castellani (1884–1932), Eastern countries scholar
- Mentore Maggini (1890–1941), astronomer
- Remo Scappini (1908–1994), politician and anti-Fascist militant
- Carlo Rovini (1932–1988), poet and writer

## Sport

Empoli's main football team is Empoli F.C., which is currently playing in Serie B.

## Twin cities

- Sankt Georgen an der Gusen, Austria
- Aubervilliers, France
- Besançon, France
- Toledo, Spain
- Namur, Belgium

## Infobox (italian comune)

- **name**: Empoli
- **official name**: Comune di Empoli
- **image skyline**: Empoli central square.jpg
- **image caption**: Piazza Farinata degli Uberti
- **image flag**: Flag of Empoli.svg
- **image shield**: Empoli-Stemma.svg
- **region**: Tuscany
- **metropolitan city**: Metropolitan City of Florence, Florence (FI)
- **frazioni**: Avane, Casenuove, Corniola, Cortenuova, Fontanella, Marcignana, Monterappoli, Pagnana, Ponte a Elsa, Pontorme, Pozzale, Sant'Andrea, Serravalle, Villanova
- **mayor**: Brenda Barnini (since 26 May 2014)
- **area total km2**: 62.28
- **population total**: 48004
- **population as of**: 30 November 2014
- **population demonym**: Empolesi
- **elevation m**: 28
- **saint**: Saint Andrew, St. Andrew
- **day**: November 30
- **postal code**: 50053
- **area code**: 0571