Santa Lucia al Borghetto
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Taking a right turn from via di Mocale you reach the Church of Santa Lucia al Borghetto. Saint Francis visited this area several times between 1212 and 1226, and by the year 1260 his followers had founded the monastery. Although it was built in the 13th century the church was already described as “new” in a document dated 1330, due to a later 14th century reconstruction in mixed masonry of “pietra forte” and stone. The brick facade was completed at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Castellucci, who also rebuilt the bell-tower. Under the pointed arch on the right, are the tombs of the Gherardini family. The interior has a single nave and is designed according to a square module measuring 20 Florentine arms per side, creating a rigorous geometric plan in keeping with Franciscan simplicity. Restoration work at the end of 19th century and beginning of the 20th removed the 18th century decorations and restored the original wooden trusses and Gothic windows. The remains of frescoes on the right wall depict a Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine of Alexandria and an Enthroned Madonna among Saints and Nuns, of the 14th century Sienese School. On the same wall a neo-Gothic niche houses a beautifully modelled painted cross from the 14th century. The sacristy is on the right of the central chapel. It was decorated in 1733 with Rococo style stuccoes with the Franciscan emblem. Above the High Altar is a 15th century wooden Crucifix by a minor artist close to Donatello. In the left chapel is the Annunciation by Neri di Bicci, painted in 1471 for the High Altar of the church. It was commissioned by Niccolò Bertini, head of the Compagnia dell’Annunziata, or Confraternity of Our Lady of the Annunciation, an annex of Santa Lucia. This is an interesting example of the painter’s work, still tied to a late Gothic decorative style, but aware of Renaissance studies on perspective. The first altar on the left has a fine Madonna and Child in painted terracotta. Under the same altar are the relics of Saint Liberato and Saint Plus. Encased in the wall a little further along, is an early 13th century stone shield depicting three horse-flies, the symbol of the Barberini family, powerful landowners in this area.
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Return to San Casciano in Val di Pesa