| Santa Maria a Monte | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Tuscany | |
| Territory | Pisa | |
| Altitude | 56 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 38.28 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 12 813 (2010) | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0587 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 56 020 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Santa Maria a Monte is a city ofItaly, located in the Province of Pisa.
To know
Always an important outpost of strategic position, Santa Maria a Monte it is positioned more or less halfway between the cities of Florence, Pisa is Lucca on the hills overlooking the Arno valley. The historic center, located on the top of a hill, has the typical spiral shape that follows the trend of the ancient defense walls.
Walking through the narrow streets of the historic center of Santa Maria a Monte, in addition to enjoying the view of the plain, you can see the ruins of the old medieval fortifications, the typical tower-houses, the clock tower, the Palazzo Podestà and the ancient church. of the collegiate church known for its extraordinary paintings.
Vincenzo Galilei, composer and father of Galileo Galilei, was born in Santa Maria a Monte. In addition, one of the houses that make up the historic center is Casa Carducci, where the famous poet lived at a young age.
Geographical notes
The municipal territory extends from the hillside of the Cerbaie and from the Arno plain to the marshes of Bientina and includes 9 hamlets: Cerretti, Cinque Case, Falorni, Le Fontine, Montecalvoli, Ponticelli, Pregiuntino, San Donato, Tavolaia.
It is possible to visit Santa Maria a Monte at any time of the year
How to orient yourself
Santa Maria a Monte: full screen map.How to get
Santa Maria a Monte, like the whole province of Pisa, is easily reachable by car thanks to the motorway connections and the SGC FI-PI-LI highway, by ship due to the proximity of the port of Livorno and by plane thanks to the presence of the International Airport. Galileo Galilei.
By plane
L'Galileo Galilei International Airport it is connected with direct flights to various Italian cities and to numerous international, European and other destinations.The airport is located about 30 kilometers from the historic center of Santa Maria a Monte, which is easily accessible via the Florence-Pisa-Livorno ( SGC FI-PI-LI) towards Florence, exit Montopoli Val D'Arno and follow directions for Santa Maria a Monte (about 3 km). Numerous car rental companies are present at the Pisa airport.
By car
From Florence: Florence-Pisa-Livorno expressway (SGC FI-PI-LI), Montopoli Val D'Arno exit and follow directions for Santa Maria a Monte (about 3 km). Rome, Bologna: A1 motorway to Florence, then SGC FI-PI-LI direction Pisa-Livorno, Montopoli Val D'Arno exit and follow directions to Santa Maria a Monte (about 3 km). Genoa: A12 Genova-Rosignano motorway, Pisa Centro exit, then SGC FI-PI-LI towards Florence, Montopoli Val D'Arno exit and follow directions for Santa Maria a Monte (about 3 km).
The nearest port is that of Livorno.
On the train
The closest railway stations are those of Pontedera Casciana-Terme or Montopoli Val D'Arno.
By bus
Suburban buses that cover the entire province of Pisa from CPT - Pisana Trasporti Company
How to get around
What see
- 1 Church of San Giovanni Evangelista and Maria Vergine Assunta. consecrated in 1466, the facade is characterized by a rich portal in pietra serena. Inside, with a single nave, some fifteenth-century works are preserved, including the baptismal font, a wooden crucifix and two side altars. The rectangular case pulpit, supported by two column-bearing lions, dates from the first half of the 13th century. The ambo is relevant to the activity of the group of sculptors of Lombard origin conventionally called Guidi. Note a polychrome wooden sculpture, depicting the Madonna and Child from 1255. The nineteenth-century frescoes with Scenes from the life of Christ by Luigi Ademollo they were lost during the last war, except those of the presbytery and the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
- 2 Church of Santi Giorgio and Jacopo, in the hamlet of Montecalvoli. The church was completely rebuilt in 1830 on the basis of a previous sacred building. The terracotta façade, destined to be covered with marble, is unfinished; inside, the single nave is flanked on the right by three chapels, which have no correspondence on the left side. In the restorations of 1955, following the damage caused by the war, cornices, profiling, pilasters and other elements of neo-Renaissance style that characterized the nineteenth-century renewal were highlighted. In the rectory there is a painting by an anonymous Tuscan from the early seventeenth century depicting the Virgin and Child with Saints Rocco, Giorgio, Francesco and Jacopo.
- Church of Santa Cristina alle Pianore.
- 3 Oratory of the Madonna delle Grazie. The people of Santa Maria a Monte, who escaped a plague, dedicated the small oratory, built in 1498, to the Madonna delle Grazie and later also to San Rocco. Inside there is a patchy fresco depicting the Madonna and Child with two saints.
- 4 Carducci house, Via Giosuè Carducci, 29, 56020 Santa Maria A Monte, ☎ 39 0587 261640. The museum is located in the house where the Carducci family lived from 1856 to 1858. In this house the great tragedy of the Poet's family took place: the death of the second son Dante, for reasons that were never cleared up. In this context, the Municipality has built a guided path in the family life and in the socio-cultural context of the poet in that period through photographs, reproductions of documents, books and ad hoc figurative material.
- 5 La Rocca Archaeological Park (Santa Maria a Monte Archaeological Park).
On appointment. The Archaeological Park "La Rocca" is an archaeological site located at the top of the ancient village. The park was inaugurated in 2013, after thirty years of excavations. The oldest evidence of life that emerged from the investigations dates back to the Etruscan period, at least starting from the 5th century BC. when the top of the town was occupied by a village which, albeit of modest size, showed, through the types of materials, a certain prosperity: the finds are of various origins and various values and some coins are worth mentioning, one of which is Greek from 'Attica. The Archaeological Park shows many testimonies of the history that has alternated in its perimeter (which corresponds to the southern half of the ancient defensive structure): the most monumental element is the area of the canonical crypt, of the so-called "ambulatory" type, where you can see the perimeter walls of the 11th century structure (particularly interesting is the small north apse, preserved for more than a meter and a half) and the bases of the three original altars, with relative platform; to the south of the crypt you can see the well-preserved brick structures of the lower portion of the bell tower from 1189-1200 (the L-shaped pillar in the corner) and the infill walls, also in bricks, created when the whole complex was transformed into a fortress (14th century) and the bell tower in a tower. Going up from the crypt, under a large protective roof, it is possible to see what remains of the primitive Lombard structure (eighth century) and the two baptismal fonts (the oldest one built between 941 and 983; the larger and more recent one, of which all the stone and brick base is preserved, built between 1189 and 1200); the portion between the baptismal fonts and the crypt is the place where the main traces relating to the Etruscan period and the eight bell furnaces were found. Leaving this area, a parallelepiped-shaped brick structure is clearly visible: this is the large cistern of the fourteenth-century (hence Florentine) phase of the fortress. 
On appointment. The Archaeological Park "La Rocca" is an archaeological site located at the top of the ancient village. The park was inaugurated in 2013, after thirty years of excavations. The oldest evidence of life that emerged from the investigations dates back to the Etruscan period, at least starting from the 5th century BC. when the top of the town was occupied by a village which, albeit of modest size, showed, through the types of materials, a certain prosperity: the finds are of various origins and various values and some coins are worth mentioning, one of which is Greek from 'Attica. The Archaeological Park shows many testimonies of the history that has alternated in its perimeter (which corresponds to the southern half of the ancient defensive structure): the most monumental element is the area of the canonical crypt, of the so-called "ambulatory" type, where you can see the perimeter walls of the 11th century structure (particularly interesting is the small north apse, preserved for more than a meter and a half) and the bases of the three original altars, with relative platform; to the south of the crypt you can see the well-preserved brick structures of the lower portion of the bell tower from 1189-1200 (the L-shaped pillar in the corner) and the infill walls, also in bricks, created when the whole complex was transformed into a fortress (14th century) and the bell tower in a tower. Going up from the crypt, under a large protective roof, it is possible to see what remains of the primitive Lombard structure (eighth century) and the two baptismal fonts (the oldest one built between 941 and 983; the larger and more recent one, of which all the stone and brick base is preserved, built between 1189 and 1200); the portion between the baptismal fonts and the crypt is the place where the main traces relating to the Etruscan period and the eight bell furnaces were found. Leaving this area, a parallelepiped-shaped brick structure is clearly visible: this is the large cistern of the fourteenth-century (hence Florentine) phase of the fortress.
Events and parties
- Basket celebrations. The traditions of the town are renewed in the celebrations in honor of the patroness, the Blessed Giuntini, which culminate in the Easter Monday with the Procession of the Basket, when the girls of the village carry flower baskets on their heads.
- Fried Potato Festival. Festival dedicated to the typical "Tosca" potato which takes place in August.
- The Piazza del Gusto. Food and wine event dedicated to slow food and local food held in June.
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Culinary curiosities
The town of Santa Maria a Monte is also known for the cultivated potato called "Tosca". In the town the "Fried Potato Festival" is celebrated every year (period around August) and the inhabitants are commonly nicknamed "patatai".
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 B&B il Ramaiolo (Bed and breakfast Il Ramaiolo), Via Francesca, 307 56020 Santa Maria a Monte (Pisa), ☎ 39 3383809238, @[email protected]. Bed And Breakfast in the Tuscan countryside in Santa Maria a Monte strategically located between the cities of Pisa, Florence and Lucca. The B&B has 3 spacious bedrooms with private bathrooms, breakfast with typical local products included in the price and free Wi-Fi connection
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Santa Maria a Monte
Commons contains images or other files on Santa Maria a Monte
