Montalbano (mountain)

The Montalbano, or Monte Albano, is a mountain range that extends over hectares across the provinces of Pistoia, Prato, and Florence, in the territories of the municipalities of Serravalle Pistoiese, Monsummano Terme, Larciano, Lastra a Signa, Lamporecchio, Quarrata, Carmignano, Poggio a Caiano, Signa, Montelupo Fiorentino, Capraia e Limite, Vinci, and Cerreto Guidi.

Geography

The hilly and mountainous system separates the Upper Valdarno and the from the Lower Valdarno and reaches an elevation of 641 a.s.l. with its highest peak, Il Cupolino. It detaches from the Apennines at the pass of Serravalle Pistoiese and reaches the Arno at the narrow passage of the, where the river flows between two steep banks. The range is bounded on one side by the Arno basin, which stretches from Lastra a Signa to Empoli, and on the other by the basin of its tributary Ombrone Pistoiese.
Montalbano is characterized by a system of adjacent hills, sloping gently down to the surrounding plains to the southwest and northeast. However, there are numerous steep depressions.

Climate and vegetation

The only weather station in the Montalbano area is located in Castelmartini, in the municipality of Larciano, although it is situated on the plain at just 23 m above sea level. Given the scarcity of climatological data series in the area, it is difficult to establish a reliable climatic profile for Montalbano itself. The general impression, supported by anthropogenic vegetation, is that the lower parts and southwest-facing slopes have a relatively Mediterranean climate, while the higher elevations and northeast-facing slopes have a submontane climate with a dry summer period coinciding with peak temperatures and minimal precipitation. In the traditional phytoclimatic classification by Aldo Pavari, the mid-lower part of Montalbano falls within the Lauretum zone, and the ridge within the zone. More recent climatological and bioclimatological sources do not agree on a precise classification, partly because the area lies in a transitional zone between the Central European domain and the Mediterranean domain. According to Bagnouls and Gaussen, it falls within the attenuated mesomediterranean bioclimate, while for, it is in the sub-Mediterranean temperate oceanic bioclimate

History

The particular position between Pistoia, Prato, and Florence, and the environmental characteristics between plain and hill, played a decisive role in the historical evolution of the area, especially in the 13th century. The area, since the early Middle Ages, was almost entirely part of the Pistoia countryside and was equipped with an extensive system of castles and fortifications, not all of which have survived. The Pistoia defensive system indeed pivoted on Montalbano with the castles of Serravalle,, Montevettolini, Larciano, Cecina, Lamporecchio, Vinci,, Carmignano, Artimino, and Capraia. Between the 13th and 14th century, the entire Montalbano territory was a battleground between Florence, Pistoia, and Lucca and the scene of the exploits of Castruccio Castracani, until Florence’s complete dominance.
Characteristic of the medieval period are the village of Artimino, the castle of Larciano, and numerous parish churches and chapels scattered in the countryside, including the near Artimino, the, the, and the.

Productions

Numerous historic farms in the area currently produce olive oil and wine. The Montalbano area is suited for the production of red wines, including the. In particular, its extra virgin olive oil can be designated in compliance with the geographical area and quality parameters set by the regulations of the Consortium for the Protection of Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP. The production area for olives destined for the production of extra virgin olive oil with protected geographical indication “Toscano di Montalbano” includes, within the administrative territory of the Province of Pistoia, Province of Prato, and Florence, all or part of the olive-growing territories within the administrative boundaries of the municipalities of: Capraia e Limite, Carmignano, Cerreto Guidi, Fucecchio, Lamporecchio, Larciano, Monsummano Terme, Poggio a Caiano, Pistoia, Quarrata, Serravalle Pistoiese, and Vinci.
Specifically, this area is delimited as follows: From a line starting at a point to the north on the, in the locality of in the municipality of Serravalle Pistoiese, it proceeds southeast to the confluence of the in the locality of, in the municipality of Poggio a Caiano; it then follows the same Torrente Ombrone until its confluence with the Arno river. The line continues west along the Arno river from the Carmignano railway station to the locality of San Pierino in the municipality of Fucecchio; it then proceeds north along the municipal road to Massarella until the Canale Maestro in the locality of, then continues north along the same Canale Maestro until its confluence with the Nievole river in the locality of Porto dell’Uggia. From here, it continues north along the same Nievole river to the locality of Ponte di Serravalle. It then continues northeast along state road No. 435 until it rejoins the Torrente Stella in the locality of Masotti, the point where the delimitation began.