...That was also the origin of a
second place: Montecatini Terme, first known as "Bagni di
Montecatini", exactly because it is part of the municipality of
Montecatini Alto. So in 1905 the municipalities of " Bagni di
Montecatini" and
"Castello" were two separate ones. In 1940 "Castello"
became part of "Bagni", today it has become an international
thermal resourt. The only intact remainings of the castle and the 6 doors
belonging to the 2-km long wall that was brought down by Cosimo I of the
Medici, is the "Porta di Borgo".Some of the many towers are
incorporated in the area of the steeple of the rectory, another one is part
of the remains of the fortress, the third one is the clock tower and the
last one is in front of
the Convent of Santa Maria a Ripa (XVI Century).This Convent is the only one
still tended since 1861 by the Benedectine nuns. The ancient Augustinian
Convent of Santa Margherita lodges now an old people’s home . The Convent
of the Carmelites (1296) was
rebuilt in the year 1764 and today is a nursing home. The Oratory of San
Sebastiano with its precious portico of the seventeenthcentury has been well
preserved. The Chirch of San Pietro Apostolo built following the plan of
Antonio Zannoni, keeps in the columns, in the capitals, and in the front,
the vestiges of its Romanesque
origin. In the adjoining Museum precious furnishings are kept: a Gothic
reliquary, the head of the mistress of the town Santa Barbara, a wooden
Majesty of the Century XII, a Nativity and a Glory of Christ, attributed to
some famous artists like Del Sarto and Orcagna. In the year 1315 Montecatini
Alto had its more important event: it was place and victim of the defeat of
Florence (it was allied of) by the ghibelline Uguccione della Faggiola,
Master of Pisa and Lucca and by Castruccio Castracani. We still have some
interesting documents about this episode. Montecatini Alto has a central
place still stone paved, some remains, coats of arms, tombstones, portals
and the ancient municipal registrar’s
office preserved by the destruction of the 1554, and after transformed in
the "Teatro dei risorti".
"Castello" were two separate ones. In 1940 "Castello"
became part of "Bagni", today it has become an international
thermal resourt. The only intact remainings of the castle and the 6 doors
belonging to the 2-km long wall that was brought down by Cosimo I of the
Medici, is the "Porta di Borgo".Some of the many towers are
incorporated in the area of the steeple of the rectory, another one is part
of the remains of the fortress, the third one is the clock tower and the
last one is in front 
of
the Convent of Santa Maria a Ripa (XVI Century).This Convent is the only one
still tended since 1861 by the Benedectine nuns. The ancient Augustinian
Convent of Santa Margherita lodges now an old people’s home . The Convent
of the Carmelites (1296) was
rebuilt in the year 1764 and today is a nursing home. The Oratory of San
Sebastiano with its precious portico of the seventeenthcentury has been well
preserved. The Chirch of San Pietro Apostolo built following the plan of
Antonio Zannoni, keeps in the columns, in the capitals, and in the front,
the vestiges of its Romanesque
origin. In the adjoining Museum precious furnishings are kept: a Gothic
reliquary, the head of the mistress of the town Santa Barbara, a wooden
Majesty of the Century XII, a Nativity and a Glory of Christ, attributed to
some famous artists like Del Sarto and Orcagna. In the year 1315 Montecatini
Alto had its more important event: it was place and victim of the defeat of
Florence (it was allied of) by the ghibelline Uguccione della Faggiola,
Master of Pisa and Lucca and by Castruccio Castracani. We still have some
interesting documents about this episode. Montecatini Alto has a central
place still stone paved, some remains, coats of arms, tombstones, portals
and the ancient municipal registrar’s
office preserved by the destruction of the 1554, and after transformed in
the "Teatro dei risorti".