Castelnuovo D'elsa: Via Francigena, Church Art and Open-Air Theatre

Castelnuovo d’Elsa combines religious history, art and theatre in a travel plan that places different themes side by side. The themes range from the Via Francigena and sacred works of art to historic institutions and a week of open-air theatre. The historical connections lie in both Coiano and Castelnuovo d’Elsa; some buildings date back to the 19th century. For an individual trip to Italy, the main highlights can be planned as a walking, church and evening programme.

Via Francigena in Coiano

The Via Francigena passes through the hills of Castelnuovo d’Elsa, more precisely through the village of Coiano. The Pieve dei Santi Pietro e Paolo di Coiano is one of the 79 stages on the official Via Francigena route. The route is historically associated with Sigeric and the year 990. For pilgrims, Coiano remains the specific historical place associated with this section of the Via Francigena. There is also an equipped rest area behind the Pieve for people taking a break along the Via Francigena. A break at the rest area can be entered as a separate stopping point on a route passing through Coiano. The Pieve and the rest area are located on the same section of the route passing through Coiano.

Sacred Art and Historic Institutions

In Castelnuovo d’Elsa, the Chiesa dei Santi Barbara e Lorenzo contains a fresco cycle by Paolo Schiavo. The church and the Canonica di Santa Maria Assunta also preserve an Annunciation by Neri di Bicci. Despite extensive alterations, the Canonica di Santa Maria Assunta still preserves some sections of the original masonry. The Canonica di Santa Maria Assunta had already become part of the history of Castelnuovo d’Elsa in the last quarter of the 13th century.

Historic institutions are also part of the townscape. The older hospital dedicated to Saint James stood on the same road near the southern entrances to the castle of Castelnuovo d’Elsa. From the 15th century onward, Castelnuovo d’Elsa had the Ospedale dei Santi Lorenzo e Barbara, an institution for receiving people, thereby supplementing the town’s older hospital connection. Just outside the municipality of Castelfiorentino, the Tabernacolo della Madonna della Tosse stands on the road to Castelnuovo d’Elsa. The Neo-Gothic structure dates from the 19th century.

Open-Air Theatre on Piazza Santa Barbara

The Castelnuovo d’Elsa Theatre Festival takes place from 20 June to 27 June as a week of open-air theatre, offering a different performance every evening. The venue is Piazza Santa Barbara. The festival reached its 37th edition. The specified period clearly defines the cultural event. Anyone planning several evenings will find a different performance every evening within this period. If you schedule your trip for this week, you can combine attending the festival in the evening with the churches, buildings and Via Francigena-related route.

For the overarching travel overview: Castelfiorentino.