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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 Tuscany - Madonna delle Grazie al Sasso
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.
Itinerary map
Here You can download the itinerary map. [mappa1.zip]
Itinerary Pontassieve e Valle del Sieci
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. Tuscany - Pieve delle Sieci
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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