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Track n° 2 VILLA BONAZZA Villa Bonazza is located in a place where, in 1080, there was an ancient estate owned by a certain Bonazzo. In the 16th century, the villa proved to be property of Bernardo Rigoli. Afterwards, it belonged to the Giacomini family first, then, in the middle of the 19th century, to the Michelozzi family. In the first years of the 20th century, on the occasion of a complete renovation of the villa, the big, neo-Gothic style tower was built on the south-west part of the villa. CHURCH OF SANT’ANTONINO IN BONAZZA The church of Bonazza is dedicated to Saint Antonino, a Florentine Bishop. Its documents go back to 1313. It was built in the 14th century with a quadrangular plant. In 1635 a porch with four pillars was added to the church, with the coat of arms of the families Cantucci Paganello Niccolini that promoted this work. The bell tower was built by Pietro Turchi at the beginning of the 19th century, while the church was renovated in 1839. In the 18th century, an oratory was built next to the church. VILLA IL PAGANELLO Paganello is a large villa of the 16th century. What gives a noble feature in the simple façade is only the portal, which is surrounded by ashlar stones and flanked by two low windows. In the courtyard there is a porch. In front of the villa, on the other side of the road, is located a chapel. The roof has a triangular pediment. Inside, the vaulted ceiling is decorated in simple grotesque style with a painting of the Virgin Mary in the centre. NOCE Noce is a little district in the municipality of Tavarnelle, where still today aristocratic houses of the Reinassance can be seen. One of the most important villas is Villa dell’Ugo, which still preserves its original structure. The villa belonged to the Ughi family, regarded as one of the most important Florentine families of the 10th century. It was built between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. Today the estate covers 130 hectars, surrounded by a big park and provided with magnificent underground cellars for the ageing of the wine. CHURCH OF SAN BARTOLOMEO IN PALAZZUOLO The church of San Bartolomeo was consecrated in 1001 by San Podio, Bishop of Florence. Between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century, the sacred building was totally rebuilt with simple Gothic forms. The church must have had a bell tower as well, with two bells, which can be seen today at each side of the entrance of the church. Between 1385 and 1390 Lorenzo Bicci realized the painting “Madonna with Child” , and in the years around 1580 the other one, “Madonna with Child and San Giovannino”, was attributed to Empoli. Today these works are in the Museum of Sacred Art of the church San Pietro in Bossolo. Track n°3 and n°4 BADIA A PASSIGNANO, SAN BIAGIO Badia a Passignano, an ancient abbey of Lombard origin, is still today the seat of the Benedictine monks of Vallombrosa. Its origin has been attested since the 9th century. Inside the abbey there is the ancient Romanesque church dedicated to San Biagio in 1080. It is worth seeing: the courtyard, realized by Jacopo and Bernardo Rosselli; in the mess hall, the fresco of the Last Supper, made by the two brothers Domenico and David Ghirlandaio in 1476; the big kitchen with the huge medieval fireplace and the splendid garden. This is the meeting house of the monks of the Vallombrosa order. For that reason no tourist visits are permitted. LA PAUROSA Along the medieval road we find the house of Passignano. Going up the hill, it is possible to reach Poggio Testa Lepre, which is the highest point,around 500 meters on the sea level. Going ahead, it is possible to enjoy the wonderful landscape from the crest, where the abbey of Badia a Passignano emerges. POGGIO AL VENTO The castle of Poggio al Vento is what remains of an important medieval castle. It is probable that, in the 11th century, this area was the boundary between Florence and Fiesole. In fact, it is documented that the church of Sant’Andrea, still today in the district, was then under the diocese of Fiesole. In the surrounding walls there were two gates, “Porta del Matraio” and “Porta de Calebuona”. The castle became an independent town in the 13th century, but the big pressure of the abbey Badia a Passignano converted the castle into a group of houses inhabited by the colonists of the cloister. Track n°5 TAVARNELLE It appeared for the first time on a map dating back to 780 with the name "Tabernulae" (a rest stop along the consular road between Florence and Rome), although its origin is much older (sepulchral gravestone of 424). Throughout the centuries Tavarnelle, situated on the green hills of the Chianti area, between Florence and Siena, has preserved its natural beauty and its roots and has been capable of creating a balanced development through an intelligent enhancement of local resources and the entire patrimony in terms of landscape, architecture, art and culture. CHURCH OF SAN PIETRO IN BOSSOLO Located just outside the town of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, the Romanesque church Pieve di San Pietro in Bossolo (Parish Church of San Pietro at Bossolo) takes its name from the ancient Latin place name of Petrus in Pixide. The church was built in the 11th century and has three naves, divided by rounded arches. The first floor of the parish rectory now hosts the Museum of Sacred Art, which contains many works of the 15th and 16th centuries, liturgical furniture and various sacred paraments. One section of the museum is dedicated to the embroidery, in particular to “punto Tavarnelle”, an embroidery born in this territory. The museum is open on Saturday and Sunday from 3.30 pm till 6.00 pm in winter, and from 4.00 pm till 7.00 pm in summer. THE WALK OF THE MARCHIONESS The marchioness Torrigiani, during her holidays in the countryside, used to go for a walk in this flat zone around Villa Del Nero-Torrigiani. Remaining inside the boundaries of the property of the family, it was possible to reach an area where, for want of the marquises, typical trees and plants of the gardens of the 19th century- like cedars- had been planted. VILLA DEL NERO – TORRIGIANI Castello del Nero is an example of high-class dwelling place, built on the base of a pre-existing building of the family Del Nero which dates back to the 14th century. In the 18th century it was enlarged and, with the extinction of the family Del Nero, it became possession of the Torrigiani. At the beginning of the 20th century the marquis Torrigiani had warehouses and cellars built, and gave a boost to the productive activities of the farmhouse. For several years the villa has become a very high-level hotel and Spa wellness centre. Track n°6 TAVARNELLE It appeared for the first time on a map dating back to 780 with the name "Tabernulae" (a rest stop along the consular road between Florence and Rome), although its origin is much older (sepulchral gravestone of 424). Throughout the centuries Tavarnelle, situated on the green hills of the Chianti area, between Florence and Siena, which has always breathed art and culture, has preserved its natural beauty and its roots and has been capable of creating a balanced development through an intelligent enhancement of local resources and the entire patrimony in terms of landscape, architecture, art and culture. CHURCH OF SANTA LUCIA AL BORGHETTO The Monastery and Church of Santa Lucia al Borghetto were constructed by the Franciscan monks in the 12th century, following the 1220 visit by Saint Francis of Assisi. The monastery complex is very much self-contained, with cellars and public spaces for the monks at ground level and a corridor on the first floor, where the monks’ cubicles are located. The monastery was put under pressure by the Napoleonic laws. The church of Santa Lucia was built in the 13th century, although its has undergone major changes over the years. VILLA SPOIANO The villa of Spoiano consists of a big prefab, formed by two annexes which are placed around a south-facing courtyard that overlooks the Elsa valley. The big villa was also mentioned by an apostolical visitor who, in 1689, on the occasion of the pastoral visit to Saint Jacopo a Magliano, noticed the beautiful oratory with an octagonal plant, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Track n°7 SAMBUCA – THE ROMAN BRIDGE Ponte di Romagliano (Romagliano Bridge). Heading down towards the Pesa valley, we find the Sambuca district, which was already known in 1053 for its hilltop castle. In 1100, a solid brick bridge was built at the foot of the hill, in the Romagliano district. The Romagliano bridge allowed carts to cross the river, thus helping to improve the economy of the region. Its strategic importance is confirmed by its presence on the 16th-century "Map of Val di Chiana", drawn by Leonardo da Vinci. BADIA A PASSIGNANO Badia a Passignano, an ancient abbey of Lombard origin, is still today the seat of the Benedictine monks of Vallombrosa. Its origin has been attested since the 9th century. Inside the abbey there is the ancient Romanesque church dedicated to San Biagio in 1080. It must be remembered: the courtyard, realized by Jacopo and Bernardo Rosselli; in the mess hall, the fresco of the Last Supper, made by the two brothers Domenico and David Ghirlandaio in 1476; the big kitchen with the huge medieval fireplaceand and the splendid garden. This is the meeting house of the monks of the Vallombrosa order. For that reason no tourist visits are permitted. |