Pontito

Frazione in Tuscany, Italy
43°59′51.5″N 10°43′22″E / 43.997639°N 10.72278°E / 43.997639; 10.72278CountryItalyRegion TuscanyProvincePistoia (PT)ComunePesciaElevation
745 m (2,444 ft)Population
 • Total47[1]Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code
51010
Dialing code(+39) 0572

Pontito is administratively a frazione of the comune of Pescia, in the Province of Pistoia, Tuscany.

Location and description

It is one of the localities called Dieci castella (Ten castles) of the Valleriana area, otherwise called Svizzera Pesciatina [it] ("Switzerland of Pescia").[2] It is located in the northernmost part of the Valleriana area. Pontito is an ancient village with its old stone houses in an almost total solitude, perched on a hill of 745 meters above sea level. The village is famous for is bell shape, obtained in accordance with the characteristics of the hill on which it has arisen. The bell shape widens as the altitude diminishes. In all likelihood the origins of the village are early medieval, making it one of the oldest and most iconic villages of the area.

Etymology

According to tradition, the name should be traced to a bridge built here by the Roman emperor Titus. A more probable hypothesis binds the name of the village to a saint named Pontito.[3] Another hypothesis is to derive the name from the village's characteristic pointed shape, defined as appuntito ("pointed"), which then became the current name of the village.

Monuments and places of interest

  • Church of Saints Andrea and Lucia [it]
  • View of Pontito from the village of Stiappa
    View of Pontito from the village of Stiappa
  • Piazza Lazzaro Papi, the main village square
    Piazza Lazzaro Papi, the main village square
  • Piazza Lazzaro Papi
    Piazza Lazzaro Papi
  • Piazza Lazzaro Papi
    Piazza Lazzaro Papi
  • Monument to Lazzaro Papi [it]
    Monument to Lazzaro Papi [it]
  • Chiesa dei Santi Lucia e Andrea (Church of Saints Andrea and Lucia)
    Chiesa dei Santi Lucia e Andrea (Church of Saints Andrea and Lucia)
  • Il campanile (the bell tower), formerly a medieval defense tower
    Il campanile (the bell tower), formerly a medieval defense tower
  • Plaque dedicated to Lazzaro Papi
    Plaque dedicated to Lazzaro Papi
  • Piazzetta called "Porta a Luca"
    Piazzetta called "Porta a Luca"
  • The village's main fountain, called "il Pillion" (the Pill).
    The village's main fountain, called "il Pillion" (the Pill).
  • The village's lesser fountain, called "il Pilloncino"
    The village's lesser fountain, called "il Pilloncino"
  • Building of the former elementary school, now reconverted into a house
    Building of the former elementary school, now reconverted into a house

References

  1. ^ "The Village of Pontito". indettaglio.it.
  2. ^ La Svizzera Pesciatina e "le Castella" - Comune di Pescia
  3. ^ Etimologia e storia di Pontito - La svizzera Pesciatina di G. Biagi - Associazione i Montagnardi
  • Chiesa SS. Andrea e Lucia, Pontito tripadvisor.com
  • Frazioni di Pescia