Capolona … on the banks of the Arno
A little town in Tuscany’s Arezzo province, and very close to the town of Arezzo itself, Capolona lies on the banks of the River Arno. With fewer than 5000 people, most visitors will pass Capolona by, but this little town does have a fascinating history. The name Capolona is actually a corruption of the orginal Latin ‘Campus Leonis’ (or lion’s field) which grew up around the Abbey of San Gennaro in the tenth century.
Under the protection of the Holy Roman Emperors, and with jurisdiction over a number of the neighbouring courts and castles in Arezzo, Capolona incurred the displeasure of its larger neighbour, and in 1241 the Arezzo army destroyed the town, the Abbott surrendering all to the enemy. In due course, as Arezzo was defeated by Florence, the town became part of the Florentine Republic under the Medicis and later taken by the Bourbons.
Sights to see in Capolona include the Abbazia di Campoleone (Campoleone Abbey), Chiesa (church) di Santa Lucia, the Chiesa di Santa Maria, the Museo dell’Acqua (or Water Museum) and the Ponte sull’Arno (Bridge on the Arno). Yearly festivals include the Frogs Festival and the Seafood Festival each July.
Official website of the Comune of Capolona.
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