At just a stone’s throw from Florence, coming from the city, along via Bolognese we find St. Pietro Parish Church in San Piero a Sieve. The parish priest from 1482 to 1529 was Leonardo di Bernardo de’ Medici, Bishop of Forlì; his family’s coats of arms still hang above the main door. Thanks only to the Medici family’s patronage the splendid baptismal font (1508) in glazed polychrome terracotta representing the life of St John the Baptist by Della Robbia ornates this church. On the main altar we can admire a wooden Crucifix by Raffaello di Montelupo. In the presbytery, are numerous priceless works of art. Tel: +39 055 848161

Just before reaching Bilancino Lake, a narrow dirt road on the left leads us to one of the most ancient Tuscan convents: Bosco ai Frati Convent.

In Scarperia town centre, in front of the famous Vicari Palace, we find Madonna di Piazza Oratory where, by tradition, the vicars took office and received the title of Podestà del Vicariato (Podesta of the Vicariate). It is an elegant 15^th century construction: inside we can admire a cross-vault ceiling covered in frescoes attributed to Jacopo del Casentino, creator of the precious panel of the Madonna on the throne with Child and Angels that hangs in a fine late Gothic temple. The impressive marble cornice shaped like a tabernacle, is completed with a base and lunette, by Mino da Fiesole. On the same square stands the Rectory of St. Jacopo and St. Filippo, once part of an Augustinian convent. In fact, a part of the 15^th century cloister is still visible. Inside the church we can find period frescos, a wooden Crucifix by Sansovino, a marble tondo by Benedetto da Maiano (15^th century), and a tabernacle for the holy oil by Mino da Fiesole. Tel. +39 055 8468165

In the countryside:

• Sant’Agata Parish Church, situated on one of the most important Medieval routes: the “Via di Sant’Agata” which connected Florence to Bologna by way of the Passo dell’Osteria Bruciata (Burnt Inn Pass). The church was built before the 11^th century; the façade has intertwining bands carved into the architrave above the portal. The structure, built in limestone with touches of sandstone and green serpentine, has a central nave and two side aisles which, in a rather original but functional architectural fashion, support the wooden beams that brace the double sloping roof. Inside we find a wooden panel by Jacopo di Cione portraying Our Lady of Grace to whom expectant women pray. On occasion, especially after earthquakes or other grave events, the panel is carried in procession. We can also find a panel of the Madonna on the throne with Child, San Jacopo and Sant’ Agata said to be by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio, a panel of the Madonna and Child holding a ring out to St. Catherine of Alexandria on a predella by Bicci di Lorenzo, and a 16^th century octagonal baptismal font of sandstone surrounded by a balustrade composed of seven marble slabs from the 12^th century ambo. Tel. +39 055 8406985 - 8406853
• St. Maria a Fagna Parish Church is an 11^th century structure with late Baroque features due to the radical renovations of 1770. From the Romanesque period remains a pulpit composed of six engraved mirrors and a fine octagonal baptismal font covered in ceramic (12^th century). Ultimately, we can admire an interesting Assumption of the Virgin (1587), by Santi di Tito, and a wax Christ Departed (1805) by Clemente Susini. In the church was buriewd the Cardinal Ottaviano degli Ubaldini at the end of the 13th century. tel. +39 055 8468165