GUIDED
EXCURSIONS > Badia a Passignano
Badia a Passignano built during the XI century
This Abbey is located in the heart of Chianti, not
far from the superstrada which connects Florence with
Siena. A huge fortified monastic complex surrounded
by great gray crenelated walls and look-out towers,
it reminds one of an inaccessible medieval fortress,
and even though there have been major changes made
during these many centuries, particularly during the
1800's, it still tells us of the protective measures
the monks needed both for defense of their lives and
for their religious practices.
Badia a Passignano
The abbey was one of the monasteries founded by
the Vallombrosian monks in the 11th century, in their
fight against the corruption of segments of the clergy.
These monks, under the strict rule laid out by their
founder Saint John Gualberto, were an essential part
of the great reform of ecclesiastical life in this
period.
There is still today a small group of Vallombrosian
monks living in the monastery.
Inside the walls we can see the church of S. Michele
Archangel , built in the 13th century and many times
restructured. It has a plain facade and a single nave
but the high altar has frescoes and pictures by Passignano,
an artist born not far from the abbey in the 16th
cent.
There are inscriptions both in Greek and Hebrew visible
in the wooden choir, which testify that this monastery
was an important center of eastern studies. The visit
includes the refectory where we find a "Last
Supper" by Ghirlandaio.
GUIDED
EXCURSIONS > Pieve of S. Pietro in Bossolo
Located not far from Tavernelle val di Pesa, it is
one of the oldest historical landmarks of the area.
The church was founded around 1000 and recent restorations
have brought to light the original form of the Romanesque
architecture. In addition, archeological studies have
recently brought to light, in front of the church,
the foundations of the IV century baptistery. Inside,
the church with its central nave and two side aisles
is, in its essential simplicity, a typical example
of the period.
The old stone facade is flanked by a porch of the
1500's that runs down the right side.
In the vicarage there has been created a museum with
works of sacred art belonging to the parish church
and to the nearby parish church of S. Donato in Poggio.
GUIDED
EXCURSIONS > Pieve of S. Appiano
This monumental complex surrounded by tall stately
cypress trees commands attention not only for its
panoramic position but for its historical importance.
Located on top of a hill which slopes towards the
river Elsa in the valley it is a site rich in archeological
remaims which go back to the Etruscan and Roman periods.
In front of the parish church there are four cruciform
pilasters, testifying to the presence of a baptistery
of the VII-VIII centuries located in front of the
church. Badly damaged in the earthquake of 1805 it
had to be demolished.
The historical importance of the area is confirmed
by the presence of the remains of Saint Appiano, responsible
for the evangelization of the Valdelsa. The ruins
that we see today are redolent of its' original importance
as the spiritual and administrative center of an area
under which twenty other smaller rural churches depended.
The rich decoration of the baptistery capitals with
the Tau cross and geometric figures show that it was
also one of the official stopping places for the pilgrims
along the via Francigena and moreover that culturally
the area was influenced by Volterra rather than Florence
or Siena.
The richness of the building, the presence of cloisters
and the many works of art, such as the frescoes of
the IV century remain a testimony to the esteem in
which this center was certainly held.
