The"Pieve" was in the past the seat to which different churches referred for good, land and workers administration problems. Today the distintion between Pieve and Church is practically disappeared, they are distinguished only by the name, in Mugello there are still tracks of this difference.
Here below we list the Pievi and Churches which is possible to visit in Mugello. We suggest to visit also the pages reguarding each district for more information.
ABBEY OF S. PIETRO A MOSCHETA (Firenzuola)
The church was built in the first years of 1300; outside it has the remains of an ancient bas-relief; inside there is an interesting cross in golden copper.
ABBEY OF S. REPARATA IN SALTO (BADIA DEL BORGO) (Marradi)
This monastic complex was built in the 11th century and it has been rebuilt many times: inside the style is baroque but the facade and the bell tower mantain the originary Romanesque aspect.
CHURCH OF SS. ANNUNZIATA (Firenzuola)
This church was partly destroyed during the bombings in 1944, but then it was renovated. Inside it there is a very interesting high altar in marble.
CHURCH OF S. ANDREA A BARBIANA (Vicchio)
This church was founded during the 16th century. It has a great artistical value because inside it conserves a huge fresco of Giotto's school representing the "Madonna with child and S. Caterina", but it is more famous to be the place where Don Lorenzo Milani lived and founded his school, his body lies in the graveyard of his church.
CHURCH OF S. ANDREA A CAMOGGIANO (Barberino di Mugello)
This church is placed on the road leading to Montecuccoli and it is notable for its elegant façade loggia dating back to 1470. Inside visitors can marvel at the baptismal font made of gold and white earthenware, illustrating the stories of St John the Baptist.
Its building dates back to 11th century and has a high architectural quality.
The elegant loggia façade dates back to 1470 (as evidenced by the writing outside the vicarage: "HOC OPUS FEC.FIERI D.F.G.P. HUIUS ECCLESIE/MCCCCLXX"), and it is totally made of stone and white plaster, with clear references to the opera of Brunelleschi, the Cappella Pazzi in Florence. The hand of the artist can be found also in the cloister arcade supported by columns with ionic capitals, very similar to those of St. Lorenzo Cloister in Florence.
The beze situated on the portal preserves a fascinating fresco painting by Bartolomeo of Giovanni: "Christ in pity".
Near the parish, we also find Villa Cattani, full of different family arms.
Information and Opening hours
Open on Sundays during the mess celebration time: 10:30-12:00 am.
Address: Via della Prata, Loc. Sant'Andrea a Camoggiano, Barberino di Mugello
CHURCH OF S. STEFANO (Palazzuolo sul Senio)
The church has ancient origins, but it doesn't preserve its original structure because of the numerous renovations and restorations done after the war. Inside there are conserved many paintings of the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
CHURCH OF THE SAINTS FILIPPO AND JACOPO AND THE PROVOST'S RESIDENCE (Scarperia)
Situated in front of the Vicars' Palace, this church was built in 1325 from the Augustinian friars and remained their property till 1812. It is interesting to notice the wooden crucifix attributed to Sansovino and the "Madonna with child" by Benedetto da Maiano.
CHURCH OF SS. JACOPO E MARIA A CAVALLINA (Barberino di Mugello)
The present aspect of the church is of the 18th century. Inside it there are conserved a Perugino's table of the 16th century and a Taddeo Gaddi's Madonna. In the adjacent oratory it is painted an Assumption attributed to the scholars of Pontormo's school.
On a hill view from Bilancino Lake, there’s the little village of Cavallina, where visitors can find the church of St Jacopo and Mary. It is easily reachable from the road called "Via della Chiesa" ("road of the church").
Once, the church has origins in the one of S. Maria a Latera, where there was the homonymous castle of Cattani from Combiate, destroyed in 1352.
The Parish was destroyed and moved to its present site in 1516, and it was linked to the old oratory of St. Jacopo, which was built a century before by Giugni's family, whose arm is affixed on a tabernacle of stone inside the church (made by Mino from Fiesole).
In 18th century, further changes gave to the church its current appearance; as a matter of fact, we can see a large façade preceded by an ample lodge including both the most current entrance to the oratory and the old rectory.
Indoor, some notables works are preserved: a painting of "The Virgin and the Child", "St. Anna, the Virgin and the child and two saints", and a "Virgin" made by Taddeo Gaddi.
The Parish has just one barrel-vaulted nave, plastered and decorated. On the left it’s possible to marvel at a "Virgin" dating back to 14th century, probably created by Bernardo Daddi and coming from The Church of Santa Maria a Latera.
Information and Opening hours
The mess celebration are held regularly and the Church is open to visits and worship.
Phone: 055 842 0035
PIEVE OF SAINT BARTOLOMEO A GALLIANO (Barberino di Mugello)
Situated in the area of Galliano, this church has very ancient origins. It was renovated in 1800, inside it has a Tito Chini's fresco.
Recently chosen by the popstar Madonna for the filming of her latest video, this church has very ancient origins. Built in 1163 to be a monastery, the current building dates back to 1845-1847. Later, it was rebuilt on decision of Ubaldini's family because of its poor conditions.
The interiors have a single nave covered by trusses and there are three windows, two of which are walled. Near the main entrance, you can find two fonts dating back to the 17th century; on the right, a marble baptismal font dating back to 1332.
Among the several works preserved in the church, there are some very important ones, such as a painting table with the "Virgin and the Child", created by Margaritone D'Arezzo and an altarpiece from the middle of the 11th century, depicting the "Virgin and the Child eighth four Saints", probably from the church of St. Stefano in Rezzano (also known for this reason as the "Virgin of Rezzano"); the dome was painted by Tito Chini.
In the Oratory it is preserved an altarpiece symbolizing the "Annunciation", which we think was made by Ghirlandaio.
Information and Opening hours
The mess celebration are held regularly and the Church is open to visits and worship.
Address: Piazza IV Novembre 1, Galliano
Phone: 055 842 8030
PIEVE OF SAINT CASSIANO IN PADULE (Vicchio)
This pieve was probably built before the year 1000, but it was deeply renovated after the eartquake which upset Mugello in 1919. It mantains the ancient original structure and inside, it is interesting, in the apse, a refined bas-relief in stone of the 15th century.
PIEVE OF SAINT GIOVANNI THE BAPTIST (Vicchio)
The building was initially built in the 14th century as a church, but after restructuration and enlargement works it became in 1785 a pieve. Inside, there are paintings and frescoes, among them there is a "Madonna of the Rosary" attributed to a scholar of Ghirlandaio.
PIEVE OF SAN LORENZO (Borgo San Lorenzo)
Dating back to 941, the church is the largest Romanesque building in Florence’ countryside. Inside the church, some beautiful works of art are well-preserved, including the sole Giotto's work in Mugello, the "Madonna with child".
We have information about the existence of this church from the end of the 10th century. The bell tower was built later, in 1236, when also the Pieve was renovated.
Inside the church, some beautiful works of art are well-preserved: "The Virgin and the Child Enthroned" by Agnolo Gaddi, a "Virgin" attributed to the genius of Giotto, "Virgin and Saints Francis and Dominic" by Matteo Rosselli. The apse of the church is entirely decorated by Galileo Chini.
Information and Opening Hours
The mess celebration are held regularly and the Church is open to visits and worship.
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 12:00 and from 16:00 to 19:30, Saturday from 07:30 to 12:30 and from 16:00 to 17:30 and Sunday from 07:30 to 12:00 and from 16:00 to 17:30
Address: Via Cocchi, Borgo San Lorenzo
Phone: 055 84559295
PIEVE OF SAN PIETRO (San Piero a Sieve)
This pieve was founded in the 11th century. Inside there are a font in white and yellow glazed earthenware by Luca della Robbia engraved with the images of S. Giovanni's life, and a wooden crucifix overhanging the high altar. The bell tower was built in 1607 and has been completely renovated in 1906.
PIEVE OF S. PIETRO IN VAGLIA (Vaglia)
This pieve was built in the 8th century and it is together with the pieve of San Piero a Sieve, one of the oldest in this area. Inside there are interesting works, such as a painting of the 16th century representing Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and a wooden crucifix attributed to Giambologna.
PIEVE OF SANT'AGATA (Scarperia)
This pieve is one of the most important and ancient sacred buildings in Mugello: its foundation is dated in late roman age, even if the present aspect is almost due to the recostruction of the 12th century. Inside there are interesting works of art, frescoes and a font.
PIEVE OF SANTA MARIA A FAGNA (Scarperia)
This pieve was built in the 10th century, it was a property of Ubaldini till the 15th century, when it passed to Niccolò Machiavelli's family.
Restored in 1770, outside it is baroque, but in the interior and the apse mantain the romanesque aspect and form. Inside there are many precious works, and also an Assumption attributed to Raffaello's school. Another important characteristic is the landscape you can see from this pieve.
SANCTUARY OF THE MADONNA DELLA NEVE DI QUADALTO (Palazzuolo sul Senio)
In 1459 it was built in this place an oratory, which at the beginning of the 17th century, was enlarged to assume the present aspect. Inside, the church is divided in a nave and two side aisles, and on the high altar it is conserved a Madonna considered thaumaturgical; furthermore the chorus is closed by precious wrought iron fences, a Dino Chini's work, inside them there is a 18th century organ.