Pieve di Sant'Appiano

The church is of Etruscan origin and became the property of the Bishop of Florence in 990. In 1171 the bell tower collapsed and destroyed the right aisle. The rebuilt side is clearly visible from the front, as it is made of red brick, while the left aisle is made of small stones and pebbles. The same can be seen in the church with its three naves: the left aisles are stone and supported by massive pilasters, while the right aisles are supported by red brick columns with floral capitals in Florentine Gothic style, a difference you will notice if you look closely at the side aisles.
In the left aisle you will find beautiful Renaissance frescoes by pupils of Ghirlandaio's studio. The three frescoes depict The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Saint Peter Martyr, Saints Anthony Abbot and Saint Matthew the Evangelist. In the opposite aisle there are traces of a fresco from the early 15th century.

The church also houses the Chapel of the Assumption, which was painted in the 17th century with frescoes of various saints. On the opposite side is a valuable and impressive tomb plaque of Gherarduccio Gherardini, dating from his death in 1331. Beyond the tomb, you enter the beautiful 13th-century loggia that encloses the small cloister.

What makes Sant'Appiano unique are the ruins of the ancient Baptistery in front of the facade. Built in the 4th century, it collapsed in the early 1800s, leaving only four stone pillars standing. The capitals are decorated with early Christian symbols such as the cross and the lamb.
Next to the church of Sant'Appiano is also the Antiquarium, a small archaeological museum that exhibits various archaeological finds from the region. In the museum are several Etruscan urns made of alabaster with beautiful lids depicting the dead. There are also various pieces of pottery from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, which are typical of Florentine production. The centerpiece of the collection is a small sandstone pagan idol depicting Eros on an animal, found in the ruins of the baptistery in front of the church.

Willem Vandenameele