Galluzzo, Firenze

Galluzzo is a district in the south of Florence that now belongs to the city's third quarter. The history of this area is closely tied to that of the famous Carthusian monastery, founded in 1342 by Niccolò Acciaioli and known as the Certosa di Firenze or Certosa del Galluzzo. Until 1928, Galluzzo was an independent municipality, and at the time it was one of the most densely populated areas in the province. That year its territory was divided up, with one part going to Florence and other areas to Scandicci, Bagno a Ripoli, and the newly formed municipality of Impruneta. The name of the district is thought to derive from an old tavern on the Via Cassia whose sign showed a rooster, based on a milestone sculpture.

Economically, the region was historically shaped by crafts and agriculture. Thanks to its proximity to Impruneta, a considerable number of terracotta producers operated here well into the sixteenth century. Later, cement works and other industries arose, while the women of the area traditionally offered laundry services and wove straw. The geology of the surrounding hills also allowed stone to be quarried in various caves. Today, Piazza Acciaioli, with its monument to the victims of World War I, forms the center of the residential area.

Culturally, Galluzzo is best known for its mention in Dante's Divine Comedy, where the poet refers to the place in Canto 16 of the Paradiso. Here you can experience the quiet atmosphere of a former village that has been absorbed into the modern city, and explore the historical importance of the monastery in the region.