It is by no means an exaggeration to speak of Galliano marvel of Mugello. As for other areas of Mugello, Galliano is also linked to the noble Ubaldini family. Around the year 1000 AD started to be formed the village at the foot of the castle called Palazzaccio. However the Ubaldini also owned the ancient villa of Il Monte. Here an ancient inscription was found referring to the Mugello feudal lords dating back to the beginning of the 12th century.
Like other typical Tuscan villages, Galliano marvel of Mugello was surrounded by walls made of river stones. The town was located and still is located between the rivers Sorcella and Tavaiano. Both today flow into Lake Bilancino. The houses were narrow and long and overlooked the internal street. As usual for all the Florentine villages, the church was built outside the walls. Well before the year 1000 there was a church dedicated to St. Peter and a small female monastery. According to tradition, the new church dedicated to St. Bartholomew the apostle was inaugurated and consecrated by an exceptional figure.
This is the holy archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, martyr of the faith. He found himself passing by Galliano in 1163 and seems to have officiated the rite of inauguration and consecration of the new church of Galliano.
Let’s come to the name of Galliano marvel of Mugello. Someone believed to make its name go back to the Celts or Gauls based on some sporadic Celtic toponym of the area. However, the word “Borgum” or “Castrum Gallani” seems to refer to the rooster which in Italian is gallo. In fact, the image of a rooster was at least on one of its main doors.
Galliano marvel of Mugello has hosted at least in a couple of occasions the Emperor Frederic II and perhaps even his grandfather Emperor Frederic Redbeard. Marco da Galliano, ( early XVII century) a famous composer considered the co-founder of the opera, also came from this Village.
Less known is Domenico del Mela, who built the first upright piano around 1731. However, this invention was neither publicized nor publicly acknowledged. It is thus that the first piano maker was recognized an American from Pennsylvania Isacc Hawkins. However, even if legitimate, the patent is dated 1779, more than forty years after the invention of Del Mela.
As for the beauty of landscape, Galliano marvel of the Mugello has no equal. Coming from Lake Bilancino, a double row of cypress trees welcomes you, snaking up towards the source of the Panna mineral water. Even more surprising is the panorama coming down from Panna . Here Galliano suddenly appears to the left behind the last old cypress line. There are no longer the ancient walls but the village appears even better defended by the surrounding landscape. Curled up like in a cradle, it seems to be lulled to sleep by the fields and hills around it.
On the background you can glimpse at Monte Calvi and Montepoli. Further behind the loom large the higher mountains towards the Futa Pass. Not far away is the Path of the Gods or Gods’ trail linking Bologna and Florence. A few kilometers more and you can reach Lake Bilancino. A little further on lies the famous convent of the Bosco ai Frati with the marvelous crucifix by Donatello. On the opposite side, coming from Santagata, you may find one of the most beautiful stretches of the Mugello countryside.