Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta e San Genesio:

The present structure dates back to 1220-1250, when Frederick II lived in San Miniato. It was built on an earlier church dated 770, in which a vicar of the Bishop of Lucca resided. Of this church, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, in the facade are inserted the lion rampant, a maze and the demonic mask. When the village of San Genesio was destroyed (1248), the church of Santa Maria became provostship and also added the title of San Genesio. From 1378 to 1489 it was closed by Florence and transformed into an armoury. It re-opened in 1489, it was restored in the lower part of the façade with the construction of the stone portals and was connected to the tower of Matilde, which became its bell tower. It was elevated to Cathedral with the bull of Pope Gregory 15th on December 5, 1622. From 1766 to 1769 on the initiative of Bishop Poltri, the interior was decorated with stuccoes and gilt; between 1859 and 1863 the balustrade of the presbytery was made , and two altars on top of the aisles were built and also the rose windows on the facade. In July 1944 it was the subject of a bombing that killed many people. It is mentioned on the plaque placed in the right transept that contains the names of all the victims. Internally in brick, the building has the form of a Latin cross. On the front are included copies of 32 tiled basins, from the Arab-Spanish or African coast, grouped according to the design of The Great and Little Bear. Small round arches crown the eaves. In the gable there is a cut-work cross with bricks in green and white marble and at the top it represents the North Star. The three circular windows were made in the mid-800. The three portals give access to the three naves. Torre Matilde:

Its building dates back to the time of Emperor Henry IV , it was part of the circuit of the walls of Rocca Imperiale , and it is the only architectural evidence of the XII Century . Around 1438 the clock was installed and it was connected to the cathedral in the late fifteenth century , when four bells were later

placed too. It takes its name , the Tower of Matilde , from the tradition that wants Matilde di Canossa to be born in the nearby palace of the vicars .