Things to see in Montaione in Tuscany
The Palazzo Pretorio (Pretorio Palace), dating back to the 1400’s, restored in 1548, changed in the 1600’s, it has various coats of arms of the podestà on its facade and is seat of the Museo civico (Civic Museum), con with its mineralogical and paleontological artifacts and prehistoric objects.
On its left is the Chiesa di San Regolo (Church of San Regolo), founded in the 12th century. It was restored in the 1600’s, but in the 1800’s, the inside was brought back to its pristine Romanic state. It preserves a “Madonna with Child” from the circle of Cimabue.
Traces of the paleochristian period are found at the Chiesa di San Biagio (Church of San Biagio), with a well preserved cript. It is located 500 metres from the town.
The Parco pubblico di Poggio Aglione (Poggio Aglione Public Park), on the Via Volterrana, bordering the municipality of Gambassi Terme, contains interesting archaeological remains. There are ruins of a cisterna romana (Roman cistern), 27 metres long, 3 metres wide and divided into three rectangular basins, presumabily from the 2nd century A.D.
The Villa da Filicaja, stands nearby, which the Medici donated to Vincenzo da Filicaia (1642-1707) in 1452, with the poet’s studio and the archives.
The Sacro Monte di S. Vivaldo (Sacred Mount of S. Vivaldo), is located 5 kms from Montaione, surrounded by splendid woods. Here Vivaldo Stricchi from S.Gimignano, a Francescano tertiary, withdrew as a hermit. He was found dead, as if praying, in the hollow of a chestnut tree that was his home. At this time, the primitive church of S.Maria in Camporena was enlarged, redevoted in 1416, and later, around 1513, developed as a convent.
Around 1515, construction began on the 34 external chapels, depicting the life and passions of Chris, illustrated in a group of polychrome terracotta works of intense expression, which seemed to emerge from the background of the painting. The surviving 17 chapels, proportionately recalling the Holy sites of Palestine and Jerusalem, which were the scenes of the life of Christ, reproduce the constructive and decorative typology of the Sacred Franciscan Mount, from which Varallo in Piedmont or Varese can be seen. A unique example in Tuscany.
At 5 kms from S. Vivaldo, towards northwest, is Castelfalfi, la the antique fortress of presumable Longobard origin, which became a lord’s residence in 1395. The Romanic Chiesa di San Floriano (Church of San Floriano); is adjacent to the fortified village. The surrounding area extends over one of the richest sites of fauna in Tuscany.
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