Church of San Francesco and Via Francigena

CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO AND VIA FRANCIGENA

History Church of San Francesco:

It is said that in 1211, being San Francesco guest at the abbey of Santa Onda , was invited by some noblemen of San Miniato and was given a place of worship and shelter for his followers. It is certain that St. Francis took possession of the place and the building which immediately was enlarged. According to tradition, the first project of the convent was by Frateria from Cortona, an architect of the Convent of St. Francis of Assisi. Surely the building complex of the birthplace of the saint was used as a template. A few decades later (1276) the construction of the new church was started. The nave and the facade of the church were expanded and raised, the main chapel erected , on the walls of the church were executed frescoes now lost .There were added areas to be used as convent and sacristy. A new expansion and elevation of the church took place in the early '500, after the primitive foundations were partially sunk because of the sandy soil. Between the'600 and' 700 the monastery was restored by building dormitories, cells and new rooms; the second cloister was built and the bell tower and the baroque altars in stone of the church were erected. The monastery was closed for the first time from 1810 to 1827 and

after that with the unification of Italy, when many furnishings were stolen and sold . From 1882 the monastery was again inhabited by Franciscan minors. Today the huge complex, the result of numerous additions over the centuries, appears an unitary whole thanks to the use of the same building material, brick. Inside it has two elegant cloisters: one called "Fathers" dates back to the sixteenth century, one called "Novice" is instead of the eighteenth century. In the refectory it is preserved a large painting by Carlo Bambocci (1690), representing Dinner of St. Francis and St. Clare. On the present façade are clearly visible signs of primitive late thirteenth-century church. Inside a nave on the right wall: - Altar of the Stefani family with canvas representing San Biagio and San Gaetano with the Madonna and Child in Glory (1708); - Altar of the Santissima Annunziata, with painting of the Annunciation and Saints Francesco Curradi (sec. XVII); - Altar of St. John Decollate with the canvas by Giovan Maria Da Reggio (1677); - Altar dedicated to San Bernardino and the Blessed Sorore with paintings by Carlo Cenni (1674); - Altar of the Bonaparte family with the Transit of St. Joseph, John the Evangelist Marchi(sec. XVII). In the Holy Cross Chapel or of the Sacrament: on the altar a wooden crucifix of the eighteenth century and on the walls ‘’Prayer in the Garden’’and ‘’Jesus at the Pillar’’, paintings by Carlo Bambocci and his son Sante. In the apsidal chapel on the right, dedicated to St. Francis: on the altar a statue of the saint, wooden polychrome sculpture by Luca and Piero Bonicelli (1672) and painting of the Virgin in Glory with four Franciscan Saints by Carlo Bambocci (1672);on the walls two paintings of Franciscan friars by Bambocci school. On the high altar dating to 1796, a wooden crucifix of the sixteenth century,at the back an attractive wooden choir made up of 29 stalls decorated and carved with amphoras, dolphins , cherubs' heads (in the pews) and female busts with a lion's paw (in the pilasters of the backrests). The work is attributed to the school of Giuliano di Baccio D'Agnolo. In the apsidal chapel on the left dedicated to the Virgin, a painting by Agostino Veracini (1725). On the left wall: - Portigiani altar with the Assumption of the Virgin, canvas attributed to Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio (1483-1561);

- Altar of St. Anthony with a polychrome wooden statue of St. Anthony of Padua (1716) and a painting of Christ in glory and the miracles of St. Anthony,by Bambocci coming from the mix of two paintings from different periods (XVIIXVIII centuries ); - Altar of the Bonaparte family with Madonna and Saints by Carlo Bambocci and son; - Altar of Mercati family with San Michele Arcangelo, painting by Bartolomeo Sprangher (1546-1611) and next to it fragment of a fresco depicting Saint Christopher, attributed to Priamo della Quercia.

Via Francigena:

San Miniato, also called San Miniato al Tedesco, is a town of 28,223 inhabitants in the province of Pisa and is a Diocese. It is a medieval town and is perfectly preserved. It is also famous for its delicious' white truffle', while the village of Ponte a Egola is known all around the world for its quality leather production. The old town of San Miniato is strategically located on a hill by the Arno river in the middle between Florence and Pisa; The town has been the scene of clashes between Florence and Pisa until the definitive Florentine conquest. The fortress was built thanks to its strategic location, as it was located on an important crossroads of the Roman road from Florence to Pisa and the "Via Francigena" from Canterbury in Britain to Rome. After the Lombard invasion the inhabitants built a church dedicated to the martyr Miniato, hence the name of the city. Back from his investiture in Rome a bit before 1000, Bishop Sigerico had noted down all about his journey, his stops and refreshment areas he used in a diary that has reached us. In this diary it is not mentioned San Miniato, but San Genesio with its parish church which provided assistance, dining, bed, etc .. Today in the plain at the foot of San Miniato you can visit the archaeological site of San Genesio discovered a few years ago.

Also from the bishop's diary we learn that in the next stage, near Gambassi, there was an important and well organized Pieve next to the Church of Santa Maria in Chianni, where two years ago a hostel for pilgrims was created . For many years the Via Francigena was neglected until it found a strong interest in the presence of pilgrims for the Jubilee year in 2000. San Miniato is the stage7, which runs from Altopascio to San Miniato and is 25.3 kilometers long, that is, about 6 hours walking. The itinerary starts in Galleno, where pilgrims walk right on the paving of the Via Francigena; later on they meet the hills of Cerbaie heading towards Ponte a Cappiano. From Ponte a Cappiano pilgrims cross the marsh going towards the old town of Fucecchio and, crossed the Arno, walk along the embankment and in less than no time they reach San Miniato.

Arrived in San Miniato pilgrims have the opportunity to choose between two different options: 1) The Mercy of San Miniato Basso where they receive a basic but very friendly welcome. There are 3-4 places in bunk beds in one room and a bathroom with shower. Pilgrims sleep in their own sleeping bags. In summer, considering the high number of admissions, Mercy offers a very large room which in winter is used for meetings and conferences; Here they put about 23 mattresses so that it can accommodate many more pilgrims. The accommodation at Mercy does not have a cost, but spontaneous offerings from pilgrims are not rejected; The volunteer who manages it issues a certificate to each pilgrim with their name. 2) "Hostel San Miniato" close to the City (new)

From San Miniato another stage starts, the stage 8, running from San Miniato and up to Gambassi Terme. The stage is 23.7 km, about 6 hours walking. Walking you can see a beautiful view along the hilly ridges of the Val d'Elsa, where there are castles, fortresses etc .. born thanks to the passage of the Via Francigena.