Santa
Fiora |
Santa
Fiora, a charming mediaeval village on Mount Amiata in Tuscany, lies rather
off the beaten track and is set on high above the valley where the river
Fiora winds its way down to the coast some fifty miles away. The village
itself tumbles, metaphorically speaking, down a steep cliff to a picturesque
fishpond, La Peschiera, and the church of the Madonna delle
Nevi. |
|
|
The
history of Santa Fiora includes such austere names as the Aldobrandini
(Mount Amiata was theirs in the 13th and 14th century) and the Sforza
family. The upper part of the village includes the main square, the Aldobrandini
castle with its truncated tower and the Sforza Cesarini palace
(now the town hall). |
|
|
Via
Carolina, a narrow street once lined with craftsmen's shops, leads
down from the main square to a church, La Pieve, which contains
some beautiful Della Robbia terracotta bas-reliefs; from there
it continues down past the impressive church of St Augustine to
the miniature church of La Madonna delle Nevi and the adjacent
fishpond. A charming ceramic bas-relief of the Della Robbia school adorns
the façade of the church. |
|
|
|