Florence`s Country

the Valley of Mugello - Barberino di Mugello - Borgo S.Lorenzo

The Valley of Mugello

Approaching from Florence, the first municipality of Mugello which we come to is Vaglia. At Pratolino is the enchanting Parco Demidoff, with artificial grottoes, statues and the majestic fountain with Giamboiogna`s colossal statue of the Appennino. Not far distant, at the top of a hill boasting a stupendous view over Mugello, is the Convent of Montesenario, built in the thirteenth century by the seven founding fathers of the Servite order. Redescending along the state road S.S. 65 known as the Bolognese, we come to San Piero a Sieve, which played an important role in the past, located as it was on the Post Road, the only communication route between Florence and Bologna up to the eighteenth century. The interior of the town is extremely characteristic, with narrow lanes leading up as far as the Fortress of San Martino, designed by Buontalenti for Cosimo I de` Medici. Another Medici construction is the Castle of Trebbio, by Micheiozzo, standing amidst ancient cypress trees. In the municipality of San Piero are two very ancient religious edifices: the parish church of San Pietro, in the centre of the town, and the convent of Bosco ai Frati, housing a beautiful wooden crucifix by Donatello. Following the road through the woods, locally famous for the porcini mushrooms which are to be found here, we head towards Barberino di Mugello skirting the Bilancino lake, where it is now possible to practise various water sports unknown in this area up a short time ago. Barberino di Mugello is a modern manufacturing town, although the old town centre and the surrounding area feature numerous monuments which attest to its intense past: the Palazzo Pretorio. the Medici loggias, the Castle transformed into a villa-estate, the Badia di Santa Maria a Vigesimo, the parish church of San Michele a Monte-cuccoli and that of San Giovanni in troio, and the Villa del le Maschere, currently being novated. One of the most important historic edifices in this district is the Villa di Cafaggiolo, rebuilt by Micheiozzo in 1451 for Cosimo I de` Medici. Scarperia, a "new town" founded by the Florentine Republic in 1306 to counter the feudal power of the Ubaldini dynasty, has been famous for over five centuries for the art of forging cutting tools. Several craft cutler`s workshops are still in operation, where the secrets of this ancient trade continue to be handed down. The Palazzo dei Vicari, emblazoned with coats-of-arms, now houses a museum illustrating this tradition. On the opposite side of the square stands the Propositura dei Santi Jacopo e Fiiippo, with a stone Neo-Gothic facade. In the surroundings of Scarperia we find one of the most important sacred edifices of Mugello: the late Romanesque church of Sant`Agata, with an original style of roof resting directly on the pilasters. The main centre of Mugello, partially as a result of its central position in the valley, is Borgo San Lorenzo, which developed around the Romanesque parish church of the same name, one of the oldest in Mugello. It is delightful to wander through the characteristic narrow streets of the town centre, lined with numerous shops. The Villa Pecori-Giraldi houses, among other things, the Museo del la Manifattura Chini, displaying furnishing accessories and decorative elements in art-nouveau style; the exhibition is a tribute to the creative talents of the Chini family, which originated from Mugello and left here numerous traces of their exceptional artistic gifts. In the fine countryside surrounding Borgo San Lorenzo, other extremely important religious buildings include: the beautiful parish church of San Cresci in Valcava and, in the direction of Ronta, the parish church of San Giovanni Maggiore, with an octagonal belltower. In the vicinity of Grezzano, the Museo di Casa d`Erci contains numerous objects connected with the agricultural share-cropping culture, while the old Faini mill, still in operation, provides a fascinating illustration of the history of milling. The last municipality of the valley is Vicchio, boasting a local countryside which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the entire region. It was the birthplace of several very famous artists, such as Giotto (a permanent exhibition relating to his work has been set up in the house where he was born in Vespi-gnano) and Beato Angelico, to whom the Museo di Arte Sacra e Religiosita Popolare is dedicated. A delightful "classic" walk, and not just for the locals, is that around the lake of Montelleri, very close to the town. The surroundings are particularly rich in villas, oratories and churches: among the latter we would mention the parish church of San Cassiano in Padule, with an original layout dating to around the year one thousand. .... from ` Mugello ` ( Apt Florence )