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From Florence to Greve via l'Impruneta along the via Chiantigiana

From Florence we reach l’Impruneta along the Provincial Road. From Galluzzo through San Felice a Ema it climbs steeply up the hill past the hamlets of Pozzolatico and Mezzomonte. L’Impruneta grew up around the ancient Pieve di Santa Maria, already documented in the 8th-9th century.

In the centre of the town in Piazza Buondelmonti, we can find the basilica 'Santuario di Santa Maria all’Impruneta'(Sanctuary of St.Mary of L'Impruneta) primitive building which was consecrated in 1060. The modern day basilica has maintained little of the ancient building, but restoration work has allowed the original Romanesque plan with three pillared naves and three apses to be seen again. The portico is a 17th century work by Gherardo Silvani.

The basilica houses many noteworthy works, but most important is the collection of the Museo del tesoro di Santa Maria all’Impruneta (Museum of the Treasures of St. Mary of L'Impruneta) within the basilica complex, inaugurated in 1987. The Museum houses a collection of illuminated manuscripts and sacred decorations from the basilica itself and from other religious sites in the territory, with a particularly rich section of silverware.
Opening times: winter Monday-Friday 10:00-13:00 Saturday 15:30-18:30 Sunday 10:00-13:00 / 15:30-18:30 - Summer: Monday-Friday 10:00-13:00 Saturday-Sunday 10:00-13:00 / 16:30-20:00

From l’Impruneta we continue along the provincial road in a south-west direction, until we meet the State Road S.S. 222 Chiantigiana, which leads to the town of Greve in Chianti. Greve has grown up around the characteristic square named after Giovanni da Verrazzano, with an elongated triangular plan surrounded by porticoes. It is the heart of the Chianti Classico wine-producing region, and is the site of the traditional Mostra Mercato (Trade Fair) every year in September.

From Greve we follow the road that, after 2 km, brings us to the Pieve di San Cresci, whose special structure of squared stones reveals the original Romanesque layout. It is not possible to visit the interior, but the facade with its great door flanked by two mullioned windows and the small narthex in front, is worth a visit.

Again leaving from the town of Greve, taking a road to the left of the San Cresci road, we can reach the Castello di Montefioralle (Castle), surrounded by a circular wall and dominated by the remains of a fortified tower, this is a very atmospheric small mediaeval walled town with its paved alleys and its stone buildings.

In the centre is the Chiesa di S. Stefano, with its interior reorganised between 1600 and 1700. The church houses some extremely interesting works, including a Madonna e il Bambino (Mary and Baby Jesus)by a Florentine painter of the late eighteenth century, and a fifteenth-century panel painting of the Trinità e Santi attributed to the Fiesolan painter Maestro dell'Epifania.

Following the provincial road No, 118 from Greve to Testalepre, we come to the Pieve di Panzano or di San Leolino. This priory has been documented since the 10th century, but it was rebuilt in Romanesque style in the 13th century. Before it we can see a sixteenth century portico and the church contains several works, including a precious panel painting with Madonna in trono, Santi Pietro e Paolo e storie dei due santi (Mary on the throne, St. Peter and St. Paul and the story of the two saints) attributed to Meliore, a Florentine painter from the second half of the 13th century, and a triptych with the Madonna, il Bambino e i Santi Pietro e Paolo (Mary, Baby Jesus and St. Peter and St. Paul)by Maestro di Panzano (mid-14th century).

It is possible to return to Florence from Panzano by retracing our way along the Chiantigiana state road, or continuing along the same road in a southerly direction as far as the hamlet of Grignano, we can take the road to the right leading to San Donato in Poggio, which will bring us into the next itinerary.

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