Category Archives: place to see

Castle of Gello Mattaccino

The castle of Gello Mattaccino is located in the municipality of Casciana Terme Lari.

HISTORY

In this ancient fortification there was the church of San Martino in Gello, that dates back to 764 d. C.

The name derives from “Gellum Mathaesi Cini”, who acquired this estate during the period when Cosimo I reigned in 1550. He supported a dispute with the municipality of Santa Luce for border issues.

In the nineteenth century the Pordenone family Rosselmini owned the estate and the annexed mill fed by the ditch of the Giunco Marino.

Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta

La chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta di Casciana Terme, risulta documentata dall’840, restaurata nel 1553. è stata più volte trasformata, fino all’attuale assetto tardo ottocentesco. È costituita da una navata centrale e due transetti laterali, uno a destra e uno a sinistra.

Descrizione

Nella cappella di destra accanto all’altare è conservata una “Madonna del Rosario” attribuita a Domenico Passignano. di quest’ultimo anche sei ritratti di donatori della famiglia Sancasciani, che fa da cornice ad una tavoletta trecentesca con la “Madonna con il Bambino“, detta “delle Grazie“, attribuita al Maestro di San Torpè, opere recentemente riportate al loro splendore originario da un restauro.

Nella cappella di sinistra del SS. Sacramento è conservata una statua lignea di Cristo risorgente, di ottima fattura moderna.

Le finestre e il rosone absidale sono tutte istoriate con vetrate raffiguranti Santi e immagini sacre, di fattura recente. Sono moderni anche i quattro affreschi monocromi posti sul soffitto della navata centrale, che raffigurano gli evangelisti.

Nella chiesa, è conservato un antico fonte battesimale e alcune pietre e lastre marmoree con iscrizioni provenienti dalle fondazioni precedenti.

Completa la chiesa un caratteristico e svettante campanile, eretto all’inizio del Novecento, dedicato ai caduti della prima guerra mondiale. A testimonianza di questa intitolazione la lapide marmorea sul retro del campanile, che, insieme ad altre lapidi dei caduti della seconda guerra mondiale e a un cippo celebrativo per tutti i cascianesi caduti, inserite in un piccolo giardino recintato, hanno formato un piccolo angolo devozionale. Il campanile fu inaugurato alla presenza del Re Vittorio Emanuele III.

Ceppato

Ceppato rose during the medieval period as suburb to the dependeces of the Parlascio castle, It is located over an hill on the road to Sant’Ermo.

HISTORY

It is remembered in the XII century as belonging to Casciana Terme, The most ancient nucleus is composed by some buildings are date back to XIII century and XIV century, whereas the current center of town is remembered in the period between XVII century and XVIII fraction of the community of Lari since 1927, It went to form together Collemontanino, Parlascio and Sant’Ermo the community of Casciana Terme. From 1rst Jannuary 2014 it is flow into the new community of Casciana Terme Lari .

Ceppato

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Ceppato 43.530910, 10.592600 Ceppato, Italy (Directions)

Astronomical Observatory of Tavolaia

History of the astronomical observatory

The observatory was inaugurated the 5th september 1999.

The Group has been formed in 1992, when after years of experiences osservative singly effected, it was born by the will of reunite in a single association.

The group conduct a didactic activity, they conduct an observational activity.

The didactic activity is developed in Santa Maria a Monte and neighboring hamlet, for example Peccioli, They have worked to the restoration of school.

In 2000 the Astrofili group has changed his denomination in “ASSOCIAZIONE ASTRONOMICA ISAAC NEWTON”.
The association has in management the ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY OF TAVOLAIA it is seated in the territory of Santa Maria a Monte.

The observatory has in equipment:

an reflector of 400 mm of diameter in in double newton and cassegrain optic configuration ( f/5 e f/20)
an sensor CCD Seti 245 NCC.

On the ground floor of the observatory are to disposition two conference rooms for the public and for the schools.

It is also active a fixed placement in the council area of Santa Maria a Monte, It mention: ASTRONOMICAL STATION ” BS-CR ” of Mauro Bachini, It is equipped with a Newton reflector of 250 mm and room CCD Seti 245.

INFORMATIONS:

The Astronomical Observatory of Tavolaia is open to public the second and fourth Thursday of month at 21:30.

‘Monumento ai Caduti’ – Pontedera

Monumento ai Caduti and his rock seats are in Garibaldi square , in 2005 was exposed an important restoration and requalification of the urban area.

‘Monumento ai Caduti per la Patria’ was inaugurate in 1969, but since 1969 it was exposed to others changes, such as etched inscriptions in the marble in memory of the all war’ victims, or the tablet that remember the Liberation’s 60th anniversary.

In the middle of the marble’ complex there is the bronze sculpture: “Pietà laica” of Loris Lanini. The sculpture rapresents a young woman with close eyes, and she’s keeping her sacrificed son on her knees.

On a side there is a raised chain, that culminate with a beam where there is a dove.

The chalk cast was a real ‘Pietà con la Madonna e il Cristo morto’, that today takes place in the first recess in left’ nave of Duomo. “Colomba per la pace” of Nado Canuti is the last monument’ item.

ROCK SEATS’ PROJECT:

The work’ area is defined by a little green area and surrounding by “Rock Seats” which has been made by 17 of the most important international artists of contemporary art.

They’ve called to accept a challenge, “panchine d’autore”, it’s able to combine art and communication with a typology of urban renewal, the “panca”, generally passive and inanimate object of the civiv daily life.

The creators of “Rock Seats” are:

Joe Tilson, Cordelia von den Steinen;

Girolamo Ciulla, Pietro Cascella;

Nado Canuti, Giò Pomodoro;

Jean Paul Philippe e Rinaldo Bigi;

Marcello Aitiani, Mirella Forlivesi;

Yasuda Kan, Viliano Tarabella;

Daniel Couvreur, Venturino Venturi;

Mauro Berrettini, Daniel Milhaud and

Manuele Giannetti.

Lodovico Coccapani Pottery Museum – Calcinaia

Pottery museum is in the historical center of Calcinaia, next to the medieval castle tower, and it is dedicated to Ludovico Coccapani from his 3 brothers Luigi Giuseppe, Andrea Sigismondo e Ercole Ranieri Coccapani. They were members of a potter family, whose managed Montecchi pottery shop since the end of XVII century.
Inside the building there is a museum route which proposes Calcinaia shop history to guests, through his productions, the recover kiln and the tools of the trade, without forget the historical-archaeological area context, and the pottery traditions developed in Valdarno from Midde Age to modern-day.

MUSEUM ROUTE:

Museum route is composed by rooms that describe the history of the area, starting to the old archaeological tracks to the history of Coccapani kiln and his pottery.

The museum route wants to bring the guest to knowledge of the pottery, through the presentation of the tools, production and decorations techniques and through the typical tools that characterize this kind of handmade activity.
The presence of kiln make Calcinaia museum an unique and an amazing place where architectural items and old materials complement each other.

VISIT THE MUSEUM:

Museum has a free entry.

2€ per person for the guided tour.

Museum is open Saturday and Sunday 15.00 to 19.00.

Museum always opens for guided tour and labs to schools, but it is available only with advance reservations.

NOTE FOR GUESTS:

The museum doesn’t have architectural barriers on ground floor and it has a lift to reach following floors to make the route available to everyone.
All rooms and locations have heat.
Museum is a Wi-Fi free zone.

CONTACT:

For info and booking:
Email: museocalcinaia@gmail.com
Telephone: +39 3319895351

More info: here

LODOVICO COCCAPANI POTTERY MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL ROUTE FOR SCHOOLS AND MANY EVENTS.

The Fort of Pietracassia – Lajatico

The Fort of Pietracassia can be considerate one of the most important high medieval monuments in the province of Pisa. The big limestone, at 550 meters above sea level, controls the street that connects Valdera with Valdicecina.

From an open fissure comes the name ‘Pietracassia’.

Monument history:

In 1115, the fort was purchased by Ugo Pannocchieschi, and in 1202 the territory and the fort was conquered by the Pisans.

It remained under Pisan control until 1286, when it was given back to Volterra.

In 1405, the traitor Pietro Gaetani gave the Pietracassia Fort and other castles in the Valdera to the Florentines.

At that time, there was a chapel dedicated to San Bartolomeo in the castle.

In 1434, Florence destroyed the castles of Pietracassia, Orciatico and Lajatico following a series of revolts by the local peoples.

From that moment onward, the Fort would be known solely as a part of the Spedaletto Property.

How it’s made:

The fort features a fortified wall with towers at all four corners. The wall extends along the southern side of the fortification complex, and the north side is protected by a cliff, making it impossible to impenetrate from the north.

The plan of the fort is square, and at each angle there are watchtowers. There is only one entranceway. Inside the fort, there are rooms where the troops slept and ate.

The fort surveilled the territory from the Pianura Pisana and the Verruca at the north to the Sillana Fort at the south The Pietracassia Fort is one of the best examples of military architecture in the area from the late Middle Ages. It dates back to the 17th or the 18th-century, and is one of the first barbaric castles in Tuscany.

The Carducci Museum-Home – Santa Maria a Monte

Giosuè Carducci was one of the most famous poet of the 19th century. He took part at the cultural life as critic, writer and teacher. He was rewarded with a literature Nobel for his first poetical work.

The museum is located in Santa Maria a Monte where Carducci family lived in from 1856 to 1858. The poet’s greatest family tragedy occurred in this house: the death of his second son, Dante, who died of unknown and mysterious causes. The poet’s father also died a few months later, and is buried, along with Dante Carducci, in the old cemetery of the town (today called, Campo della Rimembranza). The city has organized a guided tour of the places in which the Carducci family lived. The tour also recounts the socio-cultural context in which the poet lived through photographs, reproductions of documents, books and other figurative material.The museum also features a permanent exhibition by maestro Possenti (26 paintings and designs). Possenti’s artwork, Il Tenero Gigante, is inspired by Giosuè Carducci’s life and work.

Museum informations:

Opening:

Tuesday to Thursday afternoon, from 3:30pm-7pm;

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday morning, from 10am-1pm.
Saturday and Sunday afternoons, by appointment only (reservations to be made the Thursday prior to visits).

Closed Monday.

Price: 3 euro full; reduced 2 euro (groups of 5 or less)

Disabled access: Yes

Contact:

Address: Via Giosuè Carducci, 29, 56020 Santa Maria A Monte

Telephone: 0587704254 – Fax: 0587705649

Website: Comune di Santa Maria a Monte

E-mail: turismo@santamariaamonte.com

Giovanni Battista and Santa Maria Paris Church – Vicopisano

Giovanni Battista and Santa Maria Paris Church is the only used church in the village of Vicopisano. It was built on XII century.

The monumental structure has 3 naves, and outside it has ‘pietra verrucana’ vestments (1914-1925).

On the higher part there is a sloping double-arched window, and it is decorated by elevated small arches. The bell tower was built in 1775.

A low relief (inside the facade) rapresents the ‘Decollazione of San Giovanni Battista’. The 3 inner naves are divided by columns with Roman capitals.

Frescos:

On the right: ‘Annunciazione’, ‘Visitazione’, ‘Natività’ and Erode orders the ‘strage degli innocenti’

On the low relief (on the right, in the low) : ‘San Giorgio and the dragon’ on the top: ‘ll Battesimo di Cristo’

On the left wall: on the top: ‘Cattura del Cristo’ and at the bottom: ‘Pentecoste’

The cycle was supposed to use for background at the precious wood groups of seven pictures of ‘Deposizione della Croce’. There is inserted on the left wall since XVII century. A fifteenth-century tabernacle made by a rock come from a close oratorical oratorio together a big wood simulacrum.

The statue was do for the San Felice church (in Pisa), where it stayed unused.

Visits:

The Paris Church is open all days from 8.00 to 18.00

Sunday is closed from 13.00 to 15.00.

Address: Via Moricotti, 2, 56010 Vicopisano PI

For informations: Tel. 050 799155

Website: Pieve di Santa Maria a Vicopisano

Castello dei Vicari in Lari

Castello dei Vicari in Lari rises on the top of the higher place of the village. The castle has become centre of the vicariato of Florence.

Inside there are numerous paintings and decorations. The large rooms houses Vicari until 1848. The castle has becomed then Palazzo Pretorio until 1962. Nowadays it has been restored and it houses a museum about vicariato’s history with documents and maps.

Entry ticket 4€ / with a guide 5€

Castello dei Vicari
Address: Piazza del Castello Lari
Tel: +39 3201597374
Email: info@castellodilari.it

Opening time: April – June: all the afternoons 15:30 -19:00, saturdays and sundays 10:15 – 12:45 / 15:30 – 19:00
July – September: all days 10.15-12.45/15.30-19.00
October: all afternoons 15.00-18.00, Saturdays and Sundays 10.30-12.30/15.00-18.00
November – March: Saturdays and Sundays 10.30-12.30/15.00-18.00