The origin of Colle Val D'Elsa dates back to the Etruscans and then to Romans, establishing itself as a real town of Middle Ages, starting to play to a big role in the history of municipalities and between guelfi and ghibellini. In fact, its central position between the Republic of Siena and the Signoria of Firenze, made it an inviting pray and often Siena and Florence would fight for its possession. Among the most famous war episodes we remind you the battle of 1269 between guelfi and ghibellini, that shows the never ending enmity between Siena and Florence. A battle that is surrounded by a mystic and legendary aura, an enthralling story that sounds like a romance.

The popularity and the legendary component that surrounds this particular historical event, is also due to Dante, who writes about this battle in the XIII canto of the Purgatory of his "Divina Commedia" consecrating it as immortal. Even nowadays, walking in the alleys of the medieval village of Colle you could read the famous words of Dante in a marble memorial tablet, to whom Colle wanted to show its appreciation.

"Eran li cittadin miei presso a Colle in campo giunti co' loro avversari, e io pregava Iddio di quel ch'e' volle. Rotti fuor quivi e volti ne li amari passi di fuga; e veggendo la caccia, letizia presi a tutte altre dispari, ..."

Only after the decline of the Republic of Siena in 1555, Colle became a town and Diocese, imposing itself in the industry and in the commerce. For centuries it remained famous for the production of paper, activity substituted in the 19th Century by the new industries of iron and glass. The glass production became so important that Colle was called the "Bohemia of Italy". Nowadays, Colle Val d'Elsa is become the "Home of lead- crystal glass", with the 15% of the world production, and over the 95% of the italian one. Also, among the famous personalities born here, it needs to be remembered Arnolfo di Cambio, sculture, architect and author of the most important architectonic buildings such as the Duomo in Firenze.