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Castello di Gabbiano

The Castle of Gabbiano, originally one of the Bardi properties in the Greve valley, in the 15th century was owned by the Soderini, a Florentine family who contested the Medici’s ascent to power. In the early 16th century the castle belonged to Tommaso Soderini, father of Pier Soderini, who held the top Republican life-time office of “Gonfaloniere”. The family was exiled when the Medici returned to power, and was forced to abandon its properties.The building fell to ruins. It was rebuilt in 1652 by Francesco Soderini, whose name appears in the inscription over the two coat-of-arms above the tower’s entrance. In the 19th century, the Lemmi commissioned the architect Micheli for restoration of the imposing structure, who also added the external crenellations. The central tower is earlier than the cylindrical towers which were probably built in the 15th century.

Vico L’Abate

The Church of Sant’Angelo a Vico L’Abate, goes by the name of Sant’ Angelo Poverino,from the popular rhyme “Sant’Angelo poverino: sette poderi e un mulino”, meaning “Poor Sant’Angelo: seven holdings and a mill”. The place-name “Vico”, village, refers to the small group of farmhouses surrounding the church, which was also known as “l’Abate”, the Abbot, because it belonged to the abbots of Passignano from as far back as the 11th century. The present complex is probably 14th century, as indicated by the chiseled stone masonry, and by the saw tooth decoration running along the top of the church. The church’s facade was renovated in the 17th century, when the doorway and the window were altered. The frescoed Crucifixion on the interior wall of the facade and the Classical decorations of the altars and doorways date to the 16th century, while the canvases depicting the Adoration of the Magi and the Annunciation on the side altars were executed by an early 17th century Florentine painter. In a room next to the church a monumental alberese stone column with a stylize capital, part of the 13th century structure, has been uncovered. The masterpieces originally in this church, an altar frontal by Coppo di Marcovaldo and a Madonna and Child by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, have been moved to the Museo d’Arte Sacra in San Casciano.

Novoli

In Roman times, Novoli was probably an “ager novulus” a new field. The town existed in 981, while the small church is first mentioned in the 11th Century. The Romanesque building has since acquired a sober 17th century appearance.

The Map of The Area

Point of Interst on Via Cassia from Ponte al Gabbiano to Mercatale

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Return to San Casciano in Val di Pesa