| Civitella in Val di Chiana | |
| Official Name: | Comune di Civitella in Val di Chiana |
| Coordinates: | 43.4167°N 54°W |
| Region: | Tuscany |
| Province: | Arezzo (AR) |
| Frazioni: | Albergo, Badia al Pino (communal seat), Ciggiano, Oliveto, Pieve a Maiano, Pieve al Toppo, San Pancrazio, Spoiano, Tegoleto, Tuori, Viciomaggio. |
| Mayor: | Ginetta Menchetti |
| Area Total Km2: | 100.37 |
| Population Total: | 9091 |
| Population As Of: | 31 December 2013 |
| Population Demonym: | Civitellini |
| Elevation M: | 280 |
| Day: | August 24 |
| Postal Code: | 52040 |
| Area Code: | 0575 |
Civitella in Val di Chiana (official name), often also Civitella di Val di Chiana, is a comune in the province of Arezzo, south of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy. It is one of the best-preserved of the network of Lombard fortresses of the 6th and the 7th century in central Italy, strategically placed to control the whole territory. The characteristic elliptical shape of the military settlements can still be seen in the layout of the town walls.
Already inhabited in Roman times, it was occupied and fortified by the Lombards in the 6th century. In the 11th century it became a possession of the Bishops of Arezzo, and renamed "Civitella del Vescovo" ("Little Bishop's City"). In the 13th century the city was destroyed after the battle of Pieve al Toppo, cited by Dante Alighieri and fought nearby between Arezzo and Siena. After the Aretine defeat at Campaldino (1289) the city was annexed by Florence. In 1311 Arezzo regained it, holding until 1348, whenceforth it remained the seat of a Florentine podestà. Civitella enjoys one of the most scenic views of the Arezzo valley.
On 29 June 1944, 244 citizens[1] of Civitella were massacred by soldiers of the Hermann Göring Division, in retaliation for the killing of two German soldiers at the hands of partisans. In 1963, the city received the Gold Medal for Civilian Valour. A book by Enzo Gradassi about (the Swede) and Giovanni Cau, recounts the historic events that led to the massacre.
The city council has also opened a room of memories.
On 10 October 2006, SS Max Josef Milde was convicted by the Italian military court of La Spezia for his role in the Civitella massacre. The Italian Court of Cassation in October 2008 ruled that Germany was to pay one million dollars to 203 victims of the massacre.[2] However, the International Court of Justice later ruled that Italy was required to void the judgment out of respect for Germany's state immunity.
The town's cemetery is the resting place of the Scottish writer Muriel Spark.
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy.
Civitella in Val di Chiana is twinned with: