Radici Guides

Guide to Genealogical Research in Tuscany: Archives, Administrative Variations, and Municipalities

Tuscany boasts an archival heritage of inestimable value for genealogical research, whose roots sink into the era ofeminence of the Grand Duchy, the Ancien Régime period, the Napoleonic domination (Departments of Arno, Ombrone, and Mediterranean, with the introduction of civil status in the first decade of the nineteenth century), and the establishment of the unitary Italian Civil Status in 1865/1866. The regional administrative setup has evolved over time through the redefinition of historical provincial districts and the birth of new provinces (such as Prato in 1992) and numerous municipal mergers aimed at administrative efficiency.

THE PROVINCES OF TUSCANY AND THEIR VARIATIONS

1. Metropolitan City of Florence

Historical and administrative heart of the region, the Florentine district includes the capital and the surrounding territories of Mugello, Val di Sieve, Empolese-Valdelsa, and the Florentine Chianti.

List of Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Florence (41):

Bagno a Ripoli, Barberino Tavarnelle, Borgo San Lorenzo, Calenzano, Campi Bisenzio, Capraia e Limite, Castelfiorentino, Cerreto Guidi, Certaldo, Dicomano, Empoli, Fiesole, Figline e Incisa Valdarno, Firenze, Firenzuola, Fucecchio, Gambassi Terme, Greve in Chianti, Impruneta, Lastra a Signa, Londa, Marradi, Montaione, Montelupo Fiorentino, Montespertoli, Palazzuolo sul Senio, Pelago, Pontassieve, Reggello, Rignano sull'Arno, Rufina, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Scandicci, Scarperia e San Piero, Sesto Fiorentino, Signa, Vaglia, Vicchio.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Florence):

• Recent mergers: Barberino Tavarnelle was established in 2019 from the merger of Barberino di Val d'Elsa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa; Figline and Incisa Valdarno in 2014; Scarperia and San Piero in 2014.
• Territorial detachments: In 1992, a substantial part of the northern provincial territory was detached to give birth to ideate the new Province of Prato.

2. Province of Prato

The province of Prato is the smallest in Tuscany by territorial extension and was established in recent times to meet the socio-economic needs of the Prato industrial district.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Prato (7):

Cantagallo, Carmignano, Montemurlo, Poggio a Caiano, Prato, Vaiano, Vernio.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Prato):

• Establishment: Established by Law of January 14, 1992, no. 24, detaching the seven municipalities from the Province of Florence. For historical research prior to 1992, the archival civil status and military draft funds refer to the historical documentation of the province of Florence.

3. Province of Pistoia

Located between the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the plains of Lucca and Florence, the Pistoia province includes Valdinievole and the Pistoia mountains.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Pistoia (20):

Abetone Cutigliano, Agliana, Buggiano, Chiesina Uzzanese, Lamporecchio, Larciano, Marliana, Massa e Cozzile, Monsummano Terme, Montale, Montecatini Terme, Pescia, Pieve a Nievole, Pistoia, Ponte Buggianese, Quarrata, San Marcello Piteglio, Serravalle Pistoiese, Uzzano.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Pistoia):

• Historical constitution: Established as an autonomous province in 1927 (detaching from Florence).
• Recent mergers: Abetone Cutigliano (2017, from Abetone and Cutigliano) and San Marcello Piteglio (2017, from San Marcello Pistoiese and Piteglio).

4. Province of Arezzo

Extending across Casentino, Valdarno, Val di Chiana, and Valtiberina, the Arezzo province preserves a dense network of municipal and parish historical archives.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Arezzo (36):

Anghiari, Arezzo, Badia Tedalda, Bibbiena, Bucine, Capolona, Caprese Michelangelo, Castel Focognano, Castel San Niccolò, Castiglion Fibocchi, Castiglion Fiorentino, Cavriglia, Chitignano, Chiusi della Verna, Civitella in Val di Chiana, Cortona, Foiano della Chiana, Laterina Pergine Valdarno, Loro Ciuffenna, Marciano della Chiana, Monte San Savino, Montemignaio, Monterchi, Pieve Santo Stefano, Poppi, Pratovecchio Stia, San Giovanni Valdarno, Sansepolcro, Sestino, Subbiano, Talla, Terranuova Bracciolini.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Arezzo):

• Territorial variations and mergers: Pratovecchio Stia (2014) and Laterina Pergine Valdarno (2018). Historically, the area underwent boundary variations with the Papal State and subsequently with Emilia-Romagna (e.g., municipalities of the upper Valmarecchia passed to Rimini in 2009, while Sestino and Badia Tedalda historically belong to Tuscany).

5. Province of Siena

The Sienese land, famous for its hills, Chianti, Val d'Orcia, and Val di Chiana, presents an administrative setup consolidated over time.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Siena (35):

Abbadia San Salvatore, Asciano, Buonconvento, Casole d'Elsa, Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castiglione d'Orcia, Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Gaiole in Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Monteriggioni, Murlo, Piancastagnaio, Pienza, Poggibonsi, Radda in Chianti, Radicofani, Radicondoli, Rapolano Terme, San Casciano dei Bagni, San Gimignano, San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena, Sinalunga, Sovicille, Torrita di Siena, Trequanda.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Siena):

• Recent variations: Montalcino incorporated the municipality of San Giovanni d'Asso in 2017, expanding its administrative and archival territory.

6. Province of Grosseto

The Grosseto Maremma constitutes the largest province in Tuscany, characterized by sparse settlement and important historical land reclamation.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Grosseto (28):

Arcidosso, Campagnatico, Capalbio, Castel del Piano, Castell'Azzara, Castiglione della Pescaia, Cinigiano, Civitella Paganico, Follonica, Gavorrano, Grosseto, Isola del Giglio, Magliano in Toscana, Manciano, Massa Marittima, Monte Argentario, Monterotondo Marittimo, Montieri, Orbetello, Pitigliano, Roccalbegna, Roccastrada, Santa Fiora, Scansano, Scarlino, Seggiano, Sorano.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Grosseto):

• Territorial evolution: Formally established in the 19th century (Lorraine compartment and then unitary province), it saw the birth of Follonica in 1922 (by detachment from Massa Marittima and Magliano/Gavorrano) and Capalbio in 1960 (by detachment from Manciano).

7. Province of Livorno

Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Livorno province includes the Labronian coast, Val di Cornia, Elba Island, and the Tuscan archipelago.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Livorno (19):

Bibbona, Campiglia Marittima, Campo nell'Elba, Capraia Isola, Castagneto Carducci, Cecina, Collesalvetti, Livorno, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Piombino, Porto Azzurro, Portoferraio, Rio, Rosignano Marittimo, San Vincenzo, Sassetta, Suvereto.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Livorno):

• Recent mergers: The municipality of Rio was established in 2018 following the merger between Rio Marina and Rio Elba.
• Historical variations: Capraia Isola administratively passed to the province of Livorno in 1925 (previously in the province of Genoa).

8. Province of Pisa

The Pisa province extends from the Tyrrhenian coast through Valdera and Val di Cecina up to the metalliferous hills.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Pisa (37):

Bientina, Buti, Calci, Calcinaia, Capannoli, Casale Marittimo, Casciana Terme Lari, Cascina, Castelfranco di Sotto, Castellina Marittima, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, Chianni, Crespina Lorenzana, Fauglia, Guardistallo, Lajatico, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Montescudaio, Monteverdi Marittimo, Montopoli in Val d'Arno, Orciano Pisano, Palaia, Peccioli, Pisa, Pomarance, Ponsacco, Pontedera, Riparbella, San Giuliano Terme, San Miniato, Santa Croce sull'Arno, Santa Luce, Terricciola, Vecchiano, Vicopisano, Volterra.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Pisa):

• Recent mergers: Casciana Terme Lari (2014, from Casciana Terme and Lari) and Crespina Lorenzana (2014, from Crespina and Lorenzana).

9. Province of Lucca

Characterized by the Lucca plain, Versilia, and Garfagnana, the Lucca province possesses a documentary architecture of great complexity derived from the ancient Republic and Duchy of Lucca.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Lucca (33):

Altopascio, Bagni di Lucca, Barga, Borgo a Mozzano, Camaiore, Camporgiano, Capannori, Careggine, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Castiglione di Garfagnana, Fabbriche di Vergemoli, Forte dei Marmi, Fosciandora, Gallicano, Lucca, Massarosa, Minucciano, Molazzana, Montecarlo, Pieve Fosciana, Pietrasanta, Porcari, San Romano in Garfagnana, Seravezza, Sillano Giuncugnano, Stazzema, Viareggio, Villa Basilica, Villa Collemandina.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Lucca):

• Recent mergers: Fabbriche di Vergemoli (2014) and Sillano Giuncugnano (2014).
• Garfagnana: The municipalities of Garfagnana were aggregated to the province of Lucca in the post-unitary era, largely coming from the ancient Este domains.

10. Province of Massa-Carrara

Located in the extreme north of Tuscany, Lunigiana and the Apuane area constitute the province of Massa-Carrara, characterized by deep historical peculiarities linked to the Duchy of Massa and Carrara and the imperial fiefs.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Massa-Carrara (17):

Aulla, Bagnone, Carrara, Casola in Lunigiana, Comano, Filattiera, Fivizzano, Fosdinovo, Licciana Nardi, Massa, Montignoso, Mulazzo, Podenzana, Pontremoli, Tresana, Villafranca in Lunigiana, Zeri.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Massa-Carrara):

• Apuania Period (1938-1946): During the Fascist twenty-year period, the municipalities of Massa, Carrara, and Montignoso were merged into the single city and entity named Apuania (Royal Decree of September 2, 1938, no. 1592). The province was restored as Massa-Carrara by Lieutenant-General Legislative Decree of March 1, 1946, no. 48.

Synoptic Table of Administrative and Regulatory Variations in Tuscany