Holidays in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
In fact, the name comes from the Latin "taburnulae" (= tavern or shelter), those places where pilgrims and merchants could eat something and rest during their journey toward Rome, on foot or on horseback along the two major ways; Via Cassia and Via Francigena. Both streets were not far from Tavarnelle. First records of this town date back to the VIII century A.D., but since it was not in a strategic position (from a military point of view) it has never been surrounded by walls. In case of need it was defended by the nearby castles of San Casciano, Barberino, San Donato in Poggio and Tignano.
The town is organized around the main square, dominated by the characteristic city hall. Besides a nice tour through the streets of downtown, armed with a bike, good legs or a car, you can then visit the surrounding area, rich of historical witnesses. Let’s begin, for example, from the small Pieve (=parish church) of San Pietro in Bossolo, whose current building dates back before the year Thousand. The architecture of the church refers to precise numerical symbols: the pillars of the nave are twelve like the apostles, and several square architectural elements reminds the four Evangelists.
The Rectory of the Church hosts the Museum of Sacred Art of Tavarnelle. The exhibition shows artworks coming from the Pieve of San Pietro in Bossolo and the Pieve di San Donato in Poggio. Among the others stands the fresco depicting the"Madonna and Child between the archangels Gabriel and Raphael" by the Maestro di Marradi. More information can be found at: www.chiantimusei.it
The Pieve of San Donato in Poggio, also built before the year Thousand, found itself in such an important position to obtain fairly substantial revenue, which led, eventually, to the development of the village of San Donato in Poggio, all around. The current structure of the church is characterized by extreme architectural simplicity. The bell tower is probably pre-existing. Inside you will still find several works of art, among which we highlight the Baptism font in glazed terracotta by Giovanni della Robbia (1513).
The Pieve of San Donato in Poggio enjoyed the same power level of the other great religious structure in the area, the Abbey of Passignano. The first core of the complex was a "Benedictine" monastery of the Longobard period, that was soon assigned to the Friars of Vallombrosa, a branch of the same congregation founded by San Giovanni Gualberto, who is buried here. The monastery was built near the old castle, but it grew up to enclose it. In the centuries, the abbey became a religious, cultural and political center of primary importance in the Florentine countryside, so that even Galileo Galilei lived in the monastery and taught mathematics in 1587-1588. The present structure dates back to the XV century, to the renovation of the Abbot Francis Altoviti. After several changes of ownership, in 1986, the monastery got back to the monks of Vallombrosa that live there with a small monastic community. The Antinori family manage th vineyards and enjoy the use of the ancient cellars. The interior of the abbey is not open to visitors, so you have to content yourself with the winery and the inn! (https://www.antinori.it/ita/tenute/tenute_scheda.php?Id=7&tit=badiapassignano)
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