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From Florence to Montespertoli, Tuscany

At the town of Galluzzo we join the provincial road No. 4 or the via Volterrana, skirting around the Charterhouse of Galluzzo and climbing the Giogoli hill. A short detour takes us to the beautiful Romanesque priory Sant’Alessandro a Giogoli, which was already documented in 1035, with its basilica layout of three naves and its 18th century frescoes.

Continuing along the via Volterrana we reach Cerbaia, a large modern town. From here by taking a detour in the direction of San Casciano, we come to the priory of San Giovanni (St. John) in Sugana. This is a beautiful single-naved Romanesque building whose interior was renovated in the 16th century; the adjoining cloister also dates back to the 1500s.
Once we return to the via Volterrana we continue in the direction of Montespertoli, an important grape and wine producing town which had its greatest development from the 15th century, when the market which was originally held at the Pieve di San Pietro (St. Peter) was transferred here.
The Pieve di San Pietro in Mercato is a basilicar structured building which still retains its original Romanesque characteristics, even though it has been rearranged several times over the years It was consecrated in the 11th century, but it was probably founded even earlier.
Since March 1996 the presbytery has been the seat of the Museo di Arte Sacra di Montespertoli (Museum of Sacred Art) which houses works of art from churches in the area, some of them derelict or abandoned. As well as paintings, which include true works of art, such as the Madonna by Filippo Lippi and the Trittico by Cenni di Francesco, the museum also has a section of important wall decorations and documents.
Opening times: Saturdays and holidays 15:30-18:30.

The territory of Montespertoli is criss-crossed by a network of thoroughfares which have been used for trade and exchange since ancient times, and this is also testified by the walled towns, castles and priories scattered throughout the surrounding hills.

In a southerly direction from Montespertoli it is possible to take one of the roads that lead to the via Certaldese, as far as Lucardo, a small mediaeval walled town which dates back to the 8th century. Little is now visible of the remains of the ancient castle, but next to it we can find the chiesa di San Martino a Lucardo which, although it was modernised in the 18th century, still retains traces of its original Romanesque appearance.

Following the via Vertaldese from Lucardo towards San Casciano, we can reach the small town of San Pancrazio: the Pieve di San Pancrazio at Lucardo goes back to the 11th century, and despite being renovated at the start of this century, the priory is of great interest for its Romanesque architecture and the works of art it contains.

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