San Martino a Maiano between the Calanchi landscape and sacred art

San Martino a Maiano offers views of both a defining landscape and sacred art in the Certaldo area. The ridge belongs to the Calanchi sub-system, and several routes lead through or to San Martino a Maiano. If you would like to combine cultural history with a rural setting, here you will find the Chiesa di San Martino a Maiano, frescoes, a museum and specific route itineraries.

Landscape between fields and woods

The Calanchi sub-system, including the ridge of San Martino a Maiano, consists of farmland, specialized olive groves and deciduous woods. This combination of agriculturally shaped areas and wooded sections gives the landscape different facets.

Art and religious heritage

The Chiesa di San Martino a Maiano is located on Via San Martino a Maiano in Certaldo. The Oratorio di Sant'Antonio is a religious heritage site in San Martino a Maiano in the Certaldo area. Villa Dal Pozzo Toscanelli in San Martino a Maiano is privately owned; in 2019, calls were made for its care and protection.

Frescoes connected with San Martino a Maiano

The two frescoes from San Martino a Maiano were removed from the church in 1963 and were painted by Cenni di Francesco around 1405–1410. Cenni di Francesco is regarded as an eloquent popularizer. The gallery of the Convento degli Agostiniani displays a fresco panel from San Martino a Maiano depicting Saints Martin of Tours and Catherine of Alexandria. The panel bears an apparently revised inscription naming Benedetto di Baldo as the commissioner. The gallery also displays a fresco from San Martino a Maiano depicting the Madonna and Child in a niche bordered by slender twisted columns.

Museum and routes around Certaldo

The Museo d’Arte Sacra in Certaldo opened in 2000. It contains paintings, sculptures, goldsmiths’ work and liturgical vestments, presented in chronologically arranged sections. If you are planning a cultural stay, you can compare the museum’s wide-ranging collection with the individual frescoes connected with San Martino a Maiano.

The landscape route “Da Canonica a Certaldo attraverso la campagna” leads via Pian Grande to the village of San Martino a Maiano. From there, it continues in a south-easterly direction, passing near San Gaudenzio a Ruballa; it then reaches Via Certaldese, which leads from Fiano to Certaldo. Another route runs from Certaldo Alto via S. Maria a Collina, S. Giorsolè, Mugnano, S. Martino a Maiano and Pian Grande back to Certaldo Alto and includes a visit to San Martino a Maiano. This allows you to plan the place as a destination within a landscape route or as a stop on a connection with Certaldo Alto.

Luia

Certaldo