Tuscany Holidays

Casentino Valley - Pievi and Abbeys

The numerous Romanesque pievi and abbeys dotting the forests of the Casentino valley have earned the region the appellation of Spiritual Valley. These churches house many interesting works of art.


Pieve of Santa Maria Assunta (Stia), 11th century
This Parish Church is located in one of the most beautiful squares in Tuscany. Inside, the sculptured capitals on monolithic columns feature sculptures having symbolical meaning and offer tourists the most evocative part of their visit to this church, containing valuable works of art by Bicci di Lorenzo, Maestro del Borgo alla Collina, Andrea Della Robbia and an ancient 13th-century painted altar-piece according to the new Giottesque style.

Pieve of San Pietro a Romena (Pratovecchio), 11th century
It is the most important Parish Church in Upper Casentino from an architectural point of view and it was built on a previous Etruscan and Roman place of worship. Pilaster strips, arches, mullions and mullioned windows with one light embellish the apse both externally and internally, providing an example of elegance and refinement. The finely decorated capitals are the most significant expression of Romanesque art in Casentino, reaching their acme in zoomorphic human figures.

Pieve of S. Maria Assunta (Montemignaio), 11th century
This Parish Church is considered to be one of the most noteworthy Romanesque buildings in Casentino. Its interior houses frescoed pillars alternated with columns, a tempera painting attributed to Rossello di lacopo Franchi and a multicoloured Della Robbia terracotta.

Pieve of San Martino a Vado (Strada in Casentino), 11th century
Among the Romanesque Parish Churches of the Upper Casentino valley, this is the one which has best preserved its original structure. With its sober architectural plan, it features in its capitals the most important pieces of sculpture. The flowered decoration is refined in detail, while human figures are very expressive and their shapes allow a tactile effect.

Badia di San Fedele (Poppi), late 10th century
Valuable paintings of various periods stand out against its bare stone walls. It houses works by Jacopo Ligozzi, Francesco Morandini, Maestro della Maddalena, Solosmeo, Portelli, Davanzati, the silver bust of Beato Torello and a Giottesque crucifix.

Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta (Badia Prataglia), 10th century
Its large crypt with apse is the most interesting part of the building. The capitals of the central columns are marble Roman capitals that have been reused and partially re-sculptured.

Pieve dei Santi Ippolito e Donato (Bibbiena), early 13th century
The interior features, together with other valuable works of art, a magnificent 13th-century wooden sculpture, paintings by ligozzi and Balducci, a triptych, masterpiece by Bicci di Lorenzo and a very rare painted altar-piece by Cola di Camerino.

Pieve a Socana (Castel Focognano)
This church has been a place of worship for 2600 years; in fact, three civilizations are represented here: the Etruscan, the Roman and the Christian one. Excavations brought to light a magnificent sacrificial altar and the staircase of a Temple dating back to the Etruscan period. The cylindrical part of the bell-tower with pilaster strips dates back to the Roman period. The hexagonal upper part goes back to the period of the second church, which was a Christian one. Three churches were built on this same area during the Christian period.

Badia Santa Trinita in Alpe (Talla)
On the slopes of Pratomagno, shrouded by beautiful chestnut and planted-fir groves, the surprising remains of the Benedictine abbey of Santa Trinita, also known as the Holy Fountain, resist the attacks of time. Erected before the year One Thousand by some German monks on the track of an ancient Roman road connecting Valdarno to Casentino, it has al close relationship with the spreading of monastic and hermit`s life happening at the time in Italy and all over Europe. The church ruins testify the passing of time, which has almost cancelled the remains of the monastic complex that gave its name to the Alp towering over it.

Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Stia)
This elegant building, typical of the Florentine Renaissance, is situated approximately 5 kilometres away from Stia, on the road to Londa. It boasts two works by the school of the Della Robbia, a fresco in the style of Ghirlandaio and a painted altar-piece by Paolo Schiavo.

Oratory of the Holy Stigmata of St. Francis (Bibbiena)
This oratory is an example of architecture, pictorial and stuccoed decoration in pure Rococo style, rare to be found in such a good state in Tuscany. The frescoes by Giuseppe Parenti go back to 1770, whereas the facade is in Neoclassical style.

Pieve of Sietina (Capolona)
Characterized by three external apses, it houses 14th century and Renaissance frescoes.


... from Casentino Sviluppo e Turismo