Handicrafts
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The best Artisan Masters
show their works through their art |
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Italian
Minds |
The italian style, famous
all over the world, full of original and fine ideas |
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which-starting
on the 2nd July 1484 the Madonna appeared numerous times to
the shepherd girl Rucivera.The event was the origin of the Marian
sanctuary, that was completed during the 16th century. In the
17th century, the portico was added and later the other rooms,
until the most "recent" interventions of 1838. The
place is panoramic and charming, as a source of numerous excursions
for those with a naturalistic interest. After returning to the
cross-road of Lubaco, we head for Santa Brigida, which
is 3 km to the right, towards the Castle of Il Trebbio. The
de' Pazzi family built this ancient fortress, by enlarging a
preceding outpost, during the ancient feud of Monte al Croce
that used to belong to the Counts Guidi and then passed to the
Bishops of Florence. Over the course of the 13th and 14th centuries,
the Pazzi family members acquired ownership of all the surroundig
lands, and made Il Trebbio their stronghold in the region. During
the 15th century, the interior of the Castle was decorated with
a Renaissance open gallery and a fresco by Andrea del Castagno
(now in the Pitti Palace). Legend says that the conspiracy against
the Medici family which led to the assassination of Giuliano,
Lorenzo's brother was hatched here in 1478. After the failure
of the revolt, the castle was temporarily confiscated. It is
also at the centre of a large holding which produces high-quality
wines. We return to Santa Brigida, to visit this delightful
village that extends over the slopes of the hill, with boundaries
of olive groves and chestnut trees. The parish church, which
preserves a part of its original Romanesque forms, has a foundation
of sandstone which at the base of which a deep crevice opens:
this is where, according to tradition, Bridget of Scotia (ancient
Ireland) supposedly lived as a hermit. The Saint's grotto is
now illuminated, and can be reached by a staircase decorated
with the archaic sculptures of Pietro Montini a humble sacristan
who lived one century ago. After travelling through the village,
we arrive at the village of Doccia with its excellent
Oratorio di San Francesco, built during the first half of the
18th century by the Leonardi family, which houses its family's
tombs. The itinerary continues along a panoramic road in the
direction of the Villa di Buonriguardo, arriving at the ruins
of the legendary Castello del Monte di Croce. Continuing along
the road of the slope, we arrive at Doccia, with a parish church
of the same name; from here, once through the village, we continue
across the hillside for Monterifrassine, crossing the
point between The Valle della Sieve and that of the Arno. From
here, there is a wide panorama in the direction of the Appennine
ridge. It is a good idea to make a brief ascent to Montefiesole,
to see the parish church of San Lorenzo that has three naves
and a Romanesque design. Behind, covered with pines, the little
hill conceals the ruins of the castle of San Lorenzo. Returning
to Monterifrassine, we can finally descend in the direction
of Pontassieve, stopping
off briefly along the way at Grignano, with its imposing
Villa Gondi, and Pievecchia, dominated by a high tower
that is medieval in origin. |
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Here You can download the itinerary map. [mappa1.zip] |
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Place of departure: Pontassieve
We travel along State Road 67, which descends to the right of the
river Arno in the direction of Florence. After 5 km we arrive in the
hamlet of Sieci, and visit the Pieve di San Giovanni Battista
a Remole, a parish church built in the Romanesque style during the
12th century over what had been the layout of the first Cassian Way.
Between the 14th and 15th centuries, the three semicircular apses
were replaced by internally frescoed quadrangular apses. Under the
raised presbytery there remains a small crypt used as a reliquary.
Transformed by an extensive intervention during the 18th century,
the church was restored to its austere Romanesque appearance during
the 1950's.
Inside, there are several paintings of different eras, among which
we can mention a Madonna col Bambino of the later 13th century.
Across from the parish church make note of the high tower of the Donati
family (13th century), which overlooks the river and can be reached
from a charming narrow alley. Once we leave the village, we take the
first right turn for the Molino del Piano, which is reached
through a narrow valley. The village extends tranquilly at the bottom
of a charming verdant basin. A short visit to the Castle of Torre
a Decima is recommended: it can be reached by walking up the road
that ascends beyond the parish church of San Martino (an unusual 18th
century
Edifice with an octagonal design), or else by taking the asphalted
road (1 km outside the village, in the direction of Doccia). At the
foot of Monte di Croce there is an ancient field of the Counts Guidi,
the imposing Torre a Decima: it was once a feudal outpost and became
the property of the Saltarelli's, a family of local Notaries who had
immigrated to the city. During the 15th century, the inside was embellished
with Renaissance--like colonnades and open galleries. They were perhaps
the work of the new owners, the Pazzi family, of whom there remains
the coat of arms, characterized by two dolphins facing each other.
During the 16th century, it gave shelter to St. Maria Maddalena de'
Pazzi, to whom the nearby chapel with its medieval layout is dedicated.
The estate produces excellent wines and a renowned Chardonnay.
Once we leave Molino del Piano, we continue ascending the Valley of
the Sieci, keeping to the left until we reach the Pieve di San
Martino a Lubaco. Rebuilt in Romanesque style during the 12th
century, it holds the foundations of the ancient early-medieval parish
church. Its present appearance, with a single chamber, derives from
subsequent renovations that eliminated the four columns that used
to divide the three original
Naves (the bases can still be seen). From the cross-roads, in correspondence
with the parish church, we can ascend further a 100m, and take the
narrow road to the right that leads to the Oratory/Sanctuary of the
Madonna delle Grazie al Sasso. The area of Il Sasso, with its
rocks that rise between the woods which overlook the valley, had probably
been the seat of agrarian rites since Roman times. During the early
Middle Ages, it was the refuge of hermits who, around the year one
thousand, built a small oratory there, near to |
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