Discover Chianti

La Loggia

Fattoria La Loggia lies on the right-hand side of the road at the beginning of via di Bibbione. This cluster of rural houses dates back to Medieval times and once belonged to the Buondelmonti. The villa is a Renaissance building, as evident in its sober yet elegant architectural characteristics and in the Italian garden which overlooks the valley. It houses a Center for the Arts and a Contemporary Art museum which organizes cultural events and invites young artists to create site-specific installations within its grounds. La Loggia owns a remarkable collection of works by modern artists. An installation by Franz Stahler, terracotta oil jars on tall metal supports jutting in-to the sky, can be seen from the road. Works of art by Appel, Arman and Spoerri are exhibited in the garden.

Luogo Nuovo

In 1360, the death will of Andrea Buondelnlonti established two religious buildings in the place called “Collina”: a church dedicated to Santissima Annunziata and a monastery for the hermits of Saint Augustine, which came to be known by the name of “Luogo Nuovo”. Buondelmonti also wished to be buried with his wife, Monna Piera, inside the church, which was completed by his father-in-law. Although the church was built in the mid 14th century, the gabled facade, which was plastered originally, is in Romanesque style and is crowned by a frieze of suspended archlets which continues on part of the side of the church. The arched doorway decorated with a coat-of-arms and the rectangular window are the result of a later restoration. On its facade, the monastery has a beautiful 16th century window and two doorways dating to the late 19th century, which were opened up when the building was converted into a farm. The complex, which today is divided up into various residential quarters, is built around an elegant cloister and decorated with faded 17th century frescoes representing the Stories from the Life of Saint Augustine.

The Map of The Area

Points of Interest around San Casciano and Mercatale

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