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Religious Tourism: olive groves, vineyards and Parish churches of Florentine Valdarno |
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Between Florence and Arezzo are beautiful Parish churches. The ancient country churches were churches with baptismal and at the center of a territorial district civil and religious. In this short journey we take into consideration the churches of Valdarno near Florence, and in particular we focus on the church of San Pietro a Cascia Reggello, on Pitiana Parish, also in Reggello, and in Gaville Figline Valdarno the Parish church of San Romolo.
 The Parish church of San Pietro at Cascia di Reggello - In Italy around the year 1000 a.C. spreads the religious reform, to strengthen the morality and the proper interpretation of the Gospel and at the same time the Romanesque churches spread, with their simple but impressive architecture. The Parish church of San Pietro is one of the most important in Tuscany. It was built by the Countess Matilda of Canossa between the Xth and XIth century and consecrated in 1073. Internally it has three naves with an apse and central decorative elements on the facade. It is also well known because within it there is one of the most important works of Masaccio, "The triptych of St. Juvenal," dating back to 1422, now preserved in the Museum Masaccio behind the church. Inside the church there are reproductions of the triptych, and there are other notable original works of Ghirlandaio's workshop. For functions and visits the church is open every day from 7.30 to 12 and from 15 to 20 in winter, during summertime it remains open until 23. The Museum Masaccio is open from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 15 to 19.30 on Saturday and Sunday and from 15.30 to 19.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the summertime it is open on Saturdays from 21 to 23. You can reach Cascia From Florence by car through the motorway A1 towards Rome until the exit Incisa- Reggello and then follow the signs for Reggello. Or along the Via Romea " Setteponti". Or you can reach with public means, that is by train direction Florence-Rome until the train station Figline Valdarno, from there by bus Chianti Valdarno, the bus stop is in Cascia, just in front of the Parish church.
The Parish church of Pitiana Reggello - Even this church dates back to 1000 a.C. and the bell tower already existed in 1028. In the XVIth century the arcade was built. Afterwards the settlement was made more impressive by the construction on one side of the large villa which belongs to the Guicciardini family. Inside the church is an important tabernacle of Desiderio da Settignano , two tables of Ridolfo Ghirlandaio, and some paintings dating back to the XVIIIth century school. From Cascia you arrive to Pitiana along the 87 and 86 provincial roads and then through the villages Casanardo and Albero. From Florence you can reach Pitiana by car through the motorway A1 towards Rome at the exit Incisa-Reggello and then follow the signs for Reggello, afterwards for Vallombrosa and to Donnini. It is not easy to arrive by public transport, because of the few bus rides between Reggello and Pitiana. The village lies just km. 4 away from Sant'Ellero train station.
 The Parish church of San Romolo at Gaville - In Figline Valdarno the Parish church is situated on a "pagus" of the Romans. The building was probably completed in 1070 and dedicated to San Romolo, first Bishop of Fiesole. The church is' surrounded by the green Valdarno countryside and it is an extraordinary structure, which has been restored several times, most recently in 1972. It is one of the most famous Parish churches situated in this area. It is divided into three naves and arches are supported by internal capitals unique shape, with anthropomorphic elements. There are also works of the school of Ghirlandaio and Lorenzo Bicci. For visitors the opening hours are from 16 to 18 on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, during the same opening time of the Museum of Rural Life of Gaville, that is open from 15 to 18. From Florence you can reach Gaville along the A1 highway towards Rome, exit at Incisa, from there carry on to Figline Valdarno. Drive along the ancient walls and at the end turn right until the roundabout, where you find the road to Gaville. From Pitiana reach Reggello by going through the SP87 and the SS69 roads, until Via di Gaville. Also here it is not easy to reach the village by public transport, however the site is located at km. 6 from Figline Valdarno train station
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