Empoli - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

EMPOLI, a town of Tuscany, Italy, in the province of Florence, from which it is 20 M. W. by S. by rail. Pop. (1901) 7005 (tow n); 20,301 (commune). It is situated 89 ft. above sea-level, to the S. of the Arno. The principal church, the Collegiata, or Fieve di S. Andrea, founded in 1093, still preserves the lower part of the original arcaded facade in black, white and coloured marble. The works of art which it once contained are most of them preserved in a gallery close by. Some of the other churches contain interesting works of art. The principal square is surrounded by old houses with arcades. The painter Jacopo Chimenti (Jacopo da Empoli), 1554-1640, was born here. Empoli is on the main railway line from Florence to Pisa, and is the point of divergence of a line to Siena.