The first settlement of Guardistallo dates back to the Neolithic, according to the findings preserved at the Archaeological Museum of Florence. While on the one hand an Etruscan settlement is probable, on the other a Lombard presence is certain. The toponym derives in fact from the Germanic Wardan (guard) and Stall (place). After being subjected to the Della Gherardesca and the Pisan Republic, it ended up under Florence. In 1447 the troops of the king of Naples, Alfonso of Aragon, destroyed its houses and buildings, but that was not the only devastation that struck the town. The violent earthquake of 1846 destroyed most of the houses and the castle. The subsequent reconstruction saw the birth of the small and charming Marchionneschi Theater, wanted by the most influential local family to demonstrate the wealth of the town, renamed in the area "little Paris". Another tragedy struck Guardistallo in 1944: the Nazi army killed 63 civilians, in response to partisan actions. An oasis of peace and flavors In the surrounding area, the Monastery of Nostra Signora in Valserena is worth a visit, belonging to the nuns of the Cistercian order who for years have produced and sold cosmetics based on olive oil grown in the convent's fields. Due to its location and pleasant climate, Guardistallo is a sought-after vacation spot, from which it is easy to reach the coast and cities of art such as Pisa or Volterra. The surrounding countryside is full of olive groves that produce a prized extra virgin olive oil extracted from lazzare olives, celebrated every spring with the crogiantina festival (another name for bruschetta with oil). And speaking of festivals, a traditional event is in October with polenta, given that Guardistallo is part of the National Association of Polenta Makers of Italy.
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