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Towards the religious sites of Alto Mugello from Florence

From Florence we take the Faentina road ( State Road S.S. 302 ), crossing over the Badia bridge the road begins to climb up the Mugnone valley amongst beautiful mountain views, with castles, churches and ancient villas of rich Florentine families all perched on top of the hills.
On the right of the Badia bridge there is the Badia Fiesolana: Fiesole cathedral until 1026, it then became a convent and was renovated and extended in 1456 by Cosimo de'Medici, which accounts for its modern-day appearance and resemblance to the Brunelleschian style of the Basilica of S. Lorenzo in Florence.

Having passed through the village of Caldine we come to the 14th century Convento della Maddalena (originally a small hospital), we pass by the Querciola ( in medieval times this was a hospice for pilgrims and orphans who were sent from Mugello to the Spedale degli Innocenti in Florence) and begin climbing towards the Olmo

Just before the Vetta le Croci we turn right to S. Brigida - Molin del Piano: about 2 kms later on the left there is the road which, passing through the woods, leads to the Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie del Sasso. In the 11th century an Oratory was built on the spot where, between 1484 and 1485, the Madonna is said to have appeared on various occasions to two shepherds, following their prayers to heal their sick father. In memory of the apparition a church was later built in 1490 known as Chiesa Nuova or the Oratorio superiore which, due to movement of the surrounding earth slipped down the hillside coming to rest against the original Oratory.

Due to the large numbers of pilgrims who visited the sight in the rain, a portico was built in front of the church between 1615 and 1675. The large portico has two sides of arches supported on sandstone columns which unite the facade and atrium of the church. In the Oratorio Superiore, on the main altar there is a stone statue of the Sansovinesque school ( first half of the 16th century) which depicts in bas-relief scenes of the apparition and message of the Madonna. In the central alcove there is a wooden statue of the Vergine del Vangelo (1965). In the Oratorio Inferiore, in the Cappella delle Apparizioni there is a painting by the Florentine painter Benintendi or Il Ceraiolo donated by the Ricovera family which depicts the Madonna della Grazie which is, even today, much visited. Dante Alighieri, Beatrice Portinari and St. Maddalena de'Pazzi all came here on pilgrimage

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Returning to the Passo di Vetta le Croci, the Faentina road begins its descent to Mugello through fields, pine forests and woods, passing by some typical villages such as Polcanto and Faltona with its Romanesque Pieve dating from the 11th century, although much renovated, and its 12th century bell tower.

We also pass by Villa Guiducci, a beautiful 17th century building with a large lawn shaded by a huge cedar tree. On the right we take the Sagginale road to Borgo San Lorenzo where there is the Oratorio del SS. Crocifisso dei Miracoli, built in the 17th century to contain a painted wooden crucifix, probably by Giovanni Pisano (14th century) which was left in 1400 by some German pilgrims escaping the Plague. Above the main altar there is a deep niche where the crucifix is kept. The niche is covered by a large 18th century screen which is mechanically raised and lowered on the occasions when the crucifix is on view. The crucifix is said to be responsible for a number of miracles: the ending of the Plague in 1400, the protection of the village from major damage in the violent earthquake of 1542 and the liberation from France in 1799.

On the left of the Oratory there is the Chiesa di San Francesco which has a single, large nave recently restored to its original splendour.

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