The town of Impruneta, the "city of earthenware" is in the province of Florence, at an altitude of 274 metres asl and it has a population of 15000 inhabitants.

The numerous archaeological finds discovered in the area of the Impruneta have demonstrated the Etruscan origins of the city. The first settlement could even date back to the VII century B.C.
In the IV century B.C. this town became an important worship place. With the arrival of the Romans and the spread of their influence in Chianti and in the Fiesole's territories, Impruneta lost its importance but remained a lively trade place.
In the Middle Ages, this town recovered its strength again taking the lead over one of the leagues in the Florentine country. This happened under the aegis of the Buondelmonti family who also had a patronage on the parish of Santa Maria all'Impruneta, consecrated in 1096.
In 1135, the Florentines besieged and conquered their fortress and razed it to the ground during their military campaign against the lords of the rural communities. In the period of development of the city-states, Impruneta was included inside the Galluzzo's territory. It retrieved its autonomy only in 1928. It was one of the Florentine centres that were hit the most by bombardments in the Second World War.
The real patrimony of Impruneta is the art of earthenware. The abundance of clay in the territory surrounding the town has triggered the development of what can be defined as an authentic "civilization of earthenware". This kind of manufacture had already developed during the Etruscan period of the city, but the creation of a real "corporazione dei maestri della terracotta" took place only in 1308.
With the growth of the artistic and cultural movements linked to Florence, the local craft lived its period of maximum splendour and the earthenware started to be used for decorations and finishing and not only fro household use. The Della Robbia artist were authentic masters in this field.
In 1722, the Grand Duke Leopold of Lorraine further encouraged this activity abolishing the duties on the earthenware, making it the pivot of Impruneta's economy. With industrialization, the manufacture of earthenware divided into two sectors, one being the innovative and industrial sector while the other was the craft sector more linked to tradition.
Today, Impruneta is one of the Tuscan wine producing lands. In Italy, the festival of grapes was first organized in Impruneta and this is an authentic local folklore that repeats in September each year. This town also renovated its commercial tradition with the Fiera of San Luca on the 18th of October every year, when cattle and horses are traded.