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San Martino ad Argiano

On the left, further along the provincial road, the Church of San Martino ad Argiano faces a beautiful little square surrounded by cypresses. The name suggests that the site was inhabited in Roman times; it seems to derive either from “ara di Giano” meaning Altar of Janus, which would suggest a ritual site, or from the proper name Argius, the owner of the land. In Medieval times it was known as San Martino al Vescovo for its proximity to the castle of the Florentine Bishops. The church was built in the 13th century and has a graceful 18th century facade, with a little portico with a single columned arcade. The works of art which were once inside the church have been moved to the Museo d’Arte Sacra in San Casciano. A little further, on the right, is a farmhouse called La Corte dell’Acuto. It owes its name to the popular belief that the famous English mercenary John Hawkwood, known as Giovanni Acuto, lodged here in 1364, when he was fighting against Florence at the service of Pisa and pillaging the San Casciano countryside with his troops.

Pisignano

Via Pisignano, a left turning off the provincial road, joins via Volterrana near Cerbaia: the beautiful Villa Pisignano is about halfway down this road. In the 15th century it belonged to the Sassolini, who sold it in 1483 to Pier Francesco Tosinghi, the ambassador of the Florentine Republic in France. In the first half of the 16th century the Alamanni, the villa’s owners at the time, renewed the building in Renaissance taste reflecting Michelangelo’s influence. The villa has a beautiful facade, set off by corner ashlars and decorated with impressive stone window frames and with the Alamanni and Tosinghi coat-of-arms. Further downhill is a small Romanesque church with a plain gabled facade and a doorway crowned by the Salvianti shield; the patronage of the church passed on to them from the Giandonati.

Villa Antinori

At the end of the 15th century the Antinori bought a Medieval building in Cigliano from the Bardi. In 1691, Niccolò Francesco Antinori, cosimo III’s counsellor, transformed the villa and built the small chapel, which contains the Antinori family tombs. In the precious Italian garden, the flowerbeds, the hedges and the roses are set against a backdrop of a magnificent mosaic and “rocaille” niche, housing an imposing statue of a sea god. In the courtyard there are two fine glazed terracotta tondi with the Antinori and the Tornabuoni coat-of-arms by the workshop of Giovanni della Robbia, placed here to commemorate the marriage of Alessandro Antinori and Giovanna Tornabuoni.
Michele Schemer welcomes in Chianti-house, a completely restored historical farmhouse which dates back to the 11th century. Chiantihouse is open all year round and has comfortable apartments for 2-3 people with a private entrance, spacious terrace, a lawn and a car park. There is a spectacular view over hills, olive groves and vineyards. Chiantihouse is the ideal location to enjoy peaceful, independent holidays. The address is Via di Cigliano, 27 – San Casciano Val di Pesa Phone +39 055 822325 e-mail: chiantihouse@email.it

Cigliano di Sopra

In the Middle Ages the Villa di Cigliano di Sopra belonged to the Buondelmonti; in the 17th century it was bought by the Marquises Del Vernaccia who renovated it and gave it its present form. The Church of San Vincenzo is recorded in documents from 1371. It is a small 17th century building, which shows traces of its original Romanesque structure in the rear: the beautiful walled-in doorway with an ashlar archivolt was once the entrance to the church.

Santa Maria ad Argiano

The last turning to the right of via Enpolese is via di Argiano, which leads to Santa Maria ad Argiano, on the hill overlooking the Pesa valley. Although the small church was already standing at the end of the 12th Century, it is a lovely example of late Baroque restoration from the late 18th century. The simple facade with pilaster strips and a trapeze shaped pediment is crowned by terracotta vases. The interior is decorated with white and gilded stuccoes into which canvases depicting Scenes from the life of Mary have been inserted. She The High Altar and the two pietra serena side doors date to 1708, when the rector Giuseppe Masini began the renovation work. The altarpiece representing the Assumption of the Virgin is signed by the painter Luigi Pistocchi from Faenza and is dated 1796. In earlier times, when it was owned by the Bishops of Florence, the Church paid them a yearly tax of a bushel of broad beans and a pair of capons.

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