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{{Infobox Italian comune
|name                = Piombino
|official_name       = Comune di Piombino
|native_name         = 
|image_skyline       = Piombino1.jpg
|imagesize           = 
|image_alt           = 
|image_caption       = Panorama of Piombino
|image_shield        = Piombino-Stemma.svg
|shield_alt          = 
| pushpin_map        = Tuscany#Italy
|pushpin_label_position = 
|pushpin_map_alt     = 
|coordinates         = {{coord|42|55|N|10|32|E|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_footnotes = 
|region              = [[Toscana]]
|province            = [[Province of Livorno|Livorno]] (LI)
|frazioni            = [[Baratti (town)|Baratti]], [[Colmata]], [[Fiorentina, Piombino|Fiorentina]], [[La Sdriscia]], [[Populonia]], [[Populonia Stazione]], [[Riotorto, Piombino|Riotorto]]
|mayor_party         = 
|mayor               = Francesco Ferrari ([[Brothers of Italy|Fratelli d'Italia]])
|area_footnotes      = 
|area_total_km2      = 129
|population_footnotes = <ref>[http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index.html Istat]</ref>
|population_total    = 34,041
|population_as_of    = January 2017
|pop_density_footnotes = 
|population_demonym  = Piombinesi
|elevation_footnotes = 
|elevation_m         = 21
|twin1               = 
|twin1_country       = 
|saint               = St Anastasia and St Augustine<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cassiciaco.it/navigazione/monachesimo/devozioni/agostino/agostino.html|title=Feste agostiniane}}</ref>
|postal_code         = 57025
|area_code           = 0565
|website             = {{official website|http://www.comune.piombino.li.it}}
|footnotes           = 
}}
[[File:View on Piombino.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Aerial view]]
[[File:Piombino2.jpg|thumb|240px|The ''Rivellino'', the ancient main gate built in 1447 by [[Rinaldo Orsini (condottiero)|Rinaldo Orsini]]]]
'''Piombino''' is an Italian town and ''[[comune]]'' of about 35,000 inhabitants in the [[province of Livorno]] ([[Tuscany]]). It lies on the border between the [[Ligurian Sea]] and the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]], in front of [[Elba]] Island and at the northern side of [[Maremma]].

==Overview==
It has an ancient historical centre, derived from the time in which it was the [[Etruscans]]' port, in the surroundings of [[Populonia]]. In the [[Middle Ages]], it was instead an important port of the [[Republic of Pisa]].

Its [[hinterland]] hosts a considerable industrial area. Its port is still heavily used, both for industry and for tourism, with ferry boats to [[Portoferraio]] (Elba) and [[Olbia]] ([[Sardinia]]).

==Geography==
The bounding communes of Piombino are [[Campiglia Marittima]], [[Follonica]], [[San Vincenzo, Tuscany|San Vincenzo]] and [[Suvereto]]. The town has seven civil parishes (''[[Frazione|frazioni]]''): [[Baratti (town)|Baratti]], [[Colmata]], [[Fiorentina, Piombino|Fiorentina]], [[La Sdriscia]], [[Populonia]], [[Populonia Stazione]] and [[Riotorto, Piombino|Riotorto]].

==History==
===Early history===
The area of modern Piombino was settled since ancient times. During the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] era the main city in the area was [[Populonia]], now a ''[[frazione]]'' within the comune of Piombino.

The name ''Piombino'' derives almost certainly from ''Populino'', meaning "Small Populonia", which the refugees gave to a small village where they had taken refuge after the city had been attacked by Greek pirates (9th century). It is also probable that Piombino had already been founded during the period of [[Ostrogoth]] rule.

In 1022 the Monastery of San Giustiniano was founded in the area, boosting the activity of fishermen, sailors and workers. In 1115 Piombino submitted to the [[Republic of Pisa]], becoming its second main port: authority was exerted by a ''Capitano'' ("Captain"). During the conflicts between the Pisane and the Genoese (12th–13th centuries), the city was sacked various times. In 1248 the ''Capitano'' Ugolino Arsopachi built the Channels.

===Lordship of Piombino===
The Castle of Piombino remained a Pisan possession until [[Gerardo Appiani]], after ceding Pisa to the [[Visconti of Milan|Milanese Visconti]], carved out an [[Principality of Piombino|independent lordship]] centred on Piombino that included the islands of the [[Tuscan Archipelago]]: [[Elba]], [[Pianosa]], [[Montecristo]], [[Capraia]], [[Gorgona (Italy)|Gorgona]], and [[Isola del Giglio|Giglio]], for his family, who held the state intermittently until 1634.

In 1445, through his marriage with Caterina Appiani, [[Rinaldo Orsini (condottiero)|Rinaldo Orsini]] acquired the Lordship of Piombino. In 1501–1503 the lordship came under the control of [[Cesare Borgia]]. After [[Cosimo I de' Medici]] had occupied the Lordship of Piombino in the course of the war against [[Republic of Siena|Siena]], in 1553 and 1555 a French-[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] fleet attacked Piombino, but was pushed back. In 1557, a peace treaty reinstated the Appiani as rulers of Piombino, with the exception of [[Portoferraio]], which was given to the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]], and the area of [[Orbetello]], which became part of the [[State of the Presidi]] under Spanish control.

===Principality of Piombino===
[[File:Plan de la ville et des fortifications de Piombino, XVIIIe siècle.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Piombino and its fortifications, 18th century]]

In 1594, the Lordship of Piombino was raised to the status of a [[Principality of Piombino|principality]] by the Holy Roman Emperor [[Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor|Rudolf II of Habsburg]], the first Prince of Piombino being [[Alessandro Appiani d'Aragona]].

In 1634, the title was acquired by the [[Ludovisi (family)|Ludovisi family]], whose member [[Niccolò I Ludovisi|Niccolò I]] had married the heiress Polissena Appiani in 1632.

In 1708, the principality became ruled by the [[Boncompagni]] family with [[Antonio I Boncompagni|Antonio I]] as prince.

===Annexation===
In 1801, [[Napoleon]] abolished the principality, Piombino and its lands being annexed by the [[Kingdom of Etruria]]; in 1809 they were given to Napoleon's sister, [[Elisa Baciocchi]]. After Napoleon's final defeat and the [[Congress of Vienna]], the state of Piombino was annexed by the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]]. It became part of the [[unification of Italy|unified Kingdom of Italy]] in 1860.

===World War II===
During World War II, in the days that followed the announcement of the [[Armistice of Cassibile]], Piombino was the setting for one of the first episodes of the [[Italian resistance movement|Italian resistance]].<ref name="iltirreno">[http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/1998/09/13/LB601.html Nell'anniversario della battaglia di Piombino, uno storico racconta perché la città merita l'onorificenza La medaglia d'oro, dopo 55 anni «Il massimo riconoscimento va concesso per ristabilire la verità»]</ref> On 10 September 1943, during [[Operation Achse]], a small German flotilla, commanded by [[Kapitänleutnant]] Karl-Wolf Albrand, tried to enter the harbour of Piombino but was denied access by the port authorities.<ref name="iltirreno"/> General [[Cesare Maria De Vecchi]], in command of the Italian coastal forces (and a former Fascist [[Gerarca]]), commanded the port authorities to allow the German flotilla to enter, against the advice of [[Commander]] Amedeo Capuano, the Naval commander of the harbour.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica">[http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2000/10/08/piombino-citta-di-eroi.html Piombino città di eroi]</ref><ref name="toscanaoggi">[http://www.toscanaoggi.it/Cultura-Societa/8-settembre-43-la-breve-illusione-di-pace 8 settembre ’43: la breve illusione di pace]</ref> Once they entered and landed, the German forces showed a hostile behaviour, and it became clear that their intent was to [[military occupation|occupy]] the town; the local population asked for a resolved reaction by the Italian forces, threatening an insurrection, but the senior Italian commander, general Fortunato Perni, instead ordered his [[tank]]s to open fire on the civilians, to disperse the crowds; De Vecchi forbade any action against the Germans.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref name="toscanaoggi"/> This however did not stop the protests; some [[junior officer]]s, acting on their own initiative and against the orders (Perni and De Vecchi even tried to dismiss them for this), assumed command and started distributing [[weapon]]s to the population, and civilian volunteers joined the Italian sailors and soldiers in the defense.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref>[http://leg15.camera.it/organiparlamentari/ufficiopresidenza/leg13/_view.asp?id=38 55° della Battaglia di Piombino]</ref> Battle broke out at 21:15 on 10 September, between the German landing forces (who aimed to occupy the town centre) and the Italian coastal batteries, tanks, and civilian population.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref name="toscanaoggi"/> Italian tanks sank the German [[torpedo boat]] ''TA11'';<ref>[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6064.html Uboat.net]</ref><ref>[http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/43-09.htm Seekrieg, September 1943]</ref> Italian artillery also sank seven [[Marinefährprahm]]e, the [[Péniche (barge)|péniche]]s ''Mainz'' and ''Meise'' (another péniche, ''Karin'', was scuttled at the harbour entrance as a [[blockship]]) and six [[Luftwaffe]] service boats (''Fl.B.429'', ''Fl.B.538'', ''Fl.C.3046'', ''Fl.C.3099'', ''Fl.C.504'' e ''Fl.C.528''), and heavily damaged the torpedo boat ''TA 9'' and the [[Steamboat|steamers]] ''Carbet'' and ''Capitano Sauro'' (formerly Italian).<ref name="hma">[http://www.forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index.php?topic=5964.0 Forum Marinearchiv]</ref> ''Sauro'' and ''Carbet'' were scuttled because of the damage they had suffered.<ref name="hma"/><ref>[http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?162882 Wrecksite – Carbet.]</ref> The German attack was repelled; by the dawn of 11 September, 120 Germans had been killed and about 200–300 captured, 120 of them wounded.<ref name="toscanaoggi"/> Italian casualties had been 4 killed (two [[sailor]]s, one [[Guardia di Finanza]] [[brigadier]], and one civilian) and a dozen wounded;<ref>[http://www.comune.piombino.li.it/epress/archivio16_epress-contenuti_0_38491_0_6.html Taglio del nastro per la banchina «Giorgio Perini»]</ref><ref>[http://www.marinaiditalia.com/public/uploads/2013_12_38.pdf Marinai d'Italia]</ref> four Italian [[submarine chaser]]s (''VAS 208'', ''214'', ''219'' and ''220'') were also sunk during the fighting.<ref name="hma"/> Later in the morning, however, De Vecchi ordered the prisoners to be released, and had their weapons given back to them.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref>[http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/de-vecchi-cesare-maria_(Dizionario-Biografico)/ Cesare Maria De Vecchi – Dizionario Biografico Treccani]</ref> New popular protests broke out, as the Italian units were disbanded and the senior commanders fled from the city; the divisional command surrendered Piombino to the Germans on 12 September, and the city was occupied.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref name="toscanaoggi"/> Many of the sailors, soldiers and citizens who had fought in the battle of Piombino retreated to the surrounding [[wood]]s and formed the first [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] formations in the area.<ref name="larepubblica"/> For the deeds of its citizens, the town received a Gold Medal for Military Valour from President [[Carlo Azeglio Ciampi]].

==Main sights==
{{Main|Populonia}}
[[File:Porto Antico di Piombino 01.JPG|thumb|right|240px|The ancient port]]
[[File:Stazione ferroviaria di piombino.JPG|thumb|right|240px|Train station building]]
[[File:Torre-Mozza Toscana.jpg|thumb|right|240px|[[Torre Mozza (Piombino)|Torre Mozza]], 16th century Tuscan coastal tower. It is now a historical and tourist attraction in the Follonica gulf, in front of Elba island.]]

*Co-Cathedral of ''Sant'Antimo'' (c. 1377), built by the [[Augustinians]] and originally dedicated to St. Michael. It is in [[Gothic architecture|Pisane-Gothic style]], a memoir of the rule of Pisa over Piombino. The interior, with two naves (one added in 1933), houses precious works by Andrea Guardi, including a Baptismal Font. The counter-façade has Renaissance sepulchres of the Appiani family. Also by Guardi is the cloister (1470).
*The ''Rivellino'' (Walls Tower-Gate) is the city's most ancient monument (1212).
*The ''Chiesa della Misericordia'' (early 13th century). It houses a precious 15th-century crucifix.
*The ''Cassero Pisano'' (Castle). It is formed by two distinct buildings, the Fortress, built under [[Cosimo I de' Medici]] (1552–53), and the Cassero (late 15th century), the latter used as a military jail until 1959.
*The ''Palazzo Comunale'' (Town Hall), mostly a modern reconstruction of the ancient ''Palazzo degli Anziani'' (1435). In the Musters Hall, with portraits of the Princes of Piombino.
*Chapel of St. Anne, a noteworthy Renaissance work by Guardi. Annexed is the ''Torre Civica'' (Town Tower, 16th century).
*The ''Cisterna di Cittadella'' (Citadel's Cistern), also by Guardi. On the sides are the portraits of [[Jacopo III Appiani]] and his son and wife, later disfigured by order of [[Cesare Borgia]].
*''Casa delle Bifore'' (House of the Mullioned Windows, 1280s).
*The Natural Province Reserve Padule Orti Bottagone, created in 1998, next to the locality of Torre del Sale.

==Twin towns — sister cities==
{{see also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy}}
Piombino is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Flémalle]], [[Belgium]]

==Miscellanea==
Piombino has schools, a gymnasium (middle school), lyceums (high schools), churches, banks, parks and squares. In the locality of Punta Falcone is an astronomical observatory, created in 1976.
East of Piombino, there was a power station with 1280 MW generation capacity with two chimneys, each {{convert|195|m|ft}} tall, but this is now being dismantled. West of Piombino, there is the start of the submarine power cable section to Corsica from HVDC [[SACOI]].

==See also==
{{div col}}
*[[Atletico Piombino]]
*[[Baratti (town)]]
*[[La Rocchetta Lighthouse]]
*[[Populonia]]
*[[Principality of Piombino]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.comune.piombino.li.it Official website] {{in lang|it}}
* [http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/intoscana2/export/TurismoRTen/sito-TurismoRTen/Contenuti/Itinerari/visualizza_asset.html_1965283161.html Tourism in Piombino] {{in lang|it}}

{{Province of Livorno}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Piombino| ]]<!--leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Coastal towns in Tuscany]]