San Gimignano commemorates diplomat Curzio Picchena

San Gimignano will host a commemorative event at the Santa Chiara Complex to honor Curzio Picchena, one of the city’s most illustrious citizens, marking 400 years since his death. Picchena, born in 1554, had a distinguished career serving the Medici family between the 16th and 17th centuries.

During his tenure, Picchena served as an ambassador and first secretary to Cosimo II de’ Medici, eventually being named a senator in 1621. His diplomatic work spanned France, Spain, Portugal, the imperial court, and Swiss cantons. Beyond politics, he was a man of letters and a scholar of Tacitus who maintained connections with Galileo Galilei.

The event features contributions from various scholars, including representatives from the Universities of Florence, Pisa, and Parma, covering Picchena’s diplomatic role, the function of Medici secretaries, and the life of his daughter, Caterina Picchena.