La Romita and Poggio Petroio
-
La Romita
On via della Romita, shortly after the turning for the Castle of Petroio, a dirt road on the right leads to the Church of San Geminiano, which first appears in the records in the 12th century. An early 20th century restoration added a new facade and the stone bell-tower.
Poggio Petroio
The fortification of Petroio is mentioned in 12th century documents. The village bears traces of the old castle’s structures now incorporated in its houses: parts of its walls and a tower with a beautiful alberese stone doorway. The gateway to the large square with its crenellated brick wall is distinctly neo-Medieval. The villa was built by the Florentine doctor and philosopher Giovanni Maria Zavacchi in 1610, following the typical plan of late Renaissance villas. It was partly rebuilt at the end of the 19th century by Cavaliere Lazzaro Martini, as recorded on the inscription on the facade. A Medieval tower also faces the large square. The ground floor was turned into a small chapel dedicated to Saint ]ohn Gualbert. lts beautiful doorway with broken pediment dates the chapel to the 17th or 18th century. In 1718 the Church of San Giusto, which lay inside the castle, was demolished because it was in danger of collapse. Its altarpiece by Rossello di Jacopo Franchi now hangs in the Museo d’Arte Sacra in San Pietro in Bossolo. It is commonly believed that Saint John Gualbert, founder of the Vallombrosian order, was born in Petroio, and had prayed in this old church. Indeed, the castle came to the Visdomini family in the 11th Century as part of the dowry of Villa or Camilla
degli Aldobrandini, the Saint’s mother.
The Antica Pieve Bed & Breakfast is a typical Tuscan farmhouse. It is a family-run enterprise where guests are warmly welcomed. The house has 6 rooms, each with a bathroom and shower, furnished with Tuscan antiques and great attention to detail. Each room has air conditioning, satellite TV, a safe, hairdryer, telephone and Internet connection. Guests have access to the beautiful swimming pool and to private parking. Antica Pieve organizes weddings and parties, lunches and dinners, as well as guided tours of Chianti, visits to local wineries and cookery courses. The best Chianti Classico wines can be tasted in the cellar. Address: Strada della Pieve, 1 Tavarnelle Val di Pesa Phone: +39 055 8076314 e-mail: info@anticapieve.net – www.anticapieve.net
-
Return to San Casciano in Val di Pesa