Cascina

This article is about the Italian comune. For traditional farmhouses of the Po Valley, see cascina a corte.
Cascina
Comune
Comune di Cascina

Pieve di Santa Maria in Cascina.

Coat of arms
Cascina

Location of Cascina in Italy

Coordinates: 43°41′N 10°33′E / 43.683°N 10.550°E / 43.683; 10.550
Country Italy
Region Tuscany
Province / Metropolitan city Pisa (PI)
Frazioni Arnaccio, Casciavola, Laiano, Latignano, Marciana, Montione, Musigliano, Navacchio, Pettori, Ripoli, San Benedetto, San Casciano, San Frediano a Settimo, San Giorgio a Bibbiano, San Lorenzo a Pagnatico, San Lorenzo alle Corti, San Prospero, San Sisto al Pino, Santo Stefano a Macerata, Titignano, Visignano, Zambra
Government
  Mayor Susanna Ceccardi (Lega Nord)
Area
  Total 79.2 km2 (30.6 sq mi)
Elevation 8 m (26 ft)
Population (30 September 2010)
  Total 44,133
  Density 560/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Cascinesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 56021
Dialing code 050
Patron saint Sts. Innocent and Florentinus
Saint day Tuesday after the last Sunday of May
Website Official website

Cascina (pronounced with stress on first syllable: Càscina) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) west of Florence and about 13 kilometres (8 mi) southeast of Pisa.

Cascina is located on the left shore of the Arno River, on a markedly plain terrain. The comune borders the following municipalities: Calcinaia, Collesalvetti, Crespina, Lari, Pisa, Pontedera, San Giuliano Terme, Vicopisano.

History

The first mention of Cascina is from a document of 750 AD. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it could derive from Casina ("Small House"), or from the creek that crossed it (now disappeared), or from an Etruscan personal name, Latinized as Cassenius.

On 26 July 1364, the eponymous battle between the armies of Pisa and Florence was fought here. The event was later reproduced by Michelangelo in painting of which now preparatory drawings and a copy by Aristotile da Sangallo (also known as Bastiano da Sangallo) exist. The city had in fact a strategical importance as a fortified stronghold on the main road connecting the two cities.

Main sights

In locality Zambra is a 9th-century church with unusual wall paintings of fish in pre-Romanesque style. At San Casciano a Settimo, a frazione with c. 3,000 inhabitants, is a basilica, renovated in the 12th century in Pisane-Gothic style.

The frazione of Marciana has the church of San Miniato (10th century). At Montione is the Abbey of San Savino.

Science

Cascina is home to the European Gravitational Observatory and the Virgo interferometer, one of the few facilities in the World for the search for gravitational waves.

Twin towns - Sister cities

Cascina is twinned with:

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