Montelupo Fiorentino rises in the lower area of the Valdarno, close to the confluence between the Arno river and the Pesa torrent.
The first settlements in the area of Montelupo Fiorentino go back to the Etruscan and Roman Ages, as the numerous archaeological finds came to light in the territory testify. Nevertheless the real consolidation of the residential settlements occurred during the Middle Ages under the jurisdiction of the Alberti Counts, who built an imposing castle in order to control the road joining the two cities of Florence and Pisa. In 1203 Florence besieged the village of Montelupo Fiorentino, taking the Alberti's control away and destroying the fortifications.
By coming the Lorena's Dukes to the power, the territory of Montelupo Fiorentino was reclaimed.
Among the most important monuments to see in Montelupo Fiorentino we point out here the Pieve di San Giovanni Evangelista (Saint John Evangelist Parish), the Monastero di San Lorenzo (Saint Lorenz Convent), the Palazzo del Podestà (Podestà'a Palace) and the Museo Archeologico e della Ceramica (Museum of Archaeological finds and Potteries).