Faltona between Pieve, art and historic routes

Faltona brings together the architectural history of the Pieve di Santa Felicita, archaeological interest in the Faltona Valley and several routes shaped by historical or sporting connections. This creates a destination that cannot be reduced to a single attraction: cultural history, landscape and its place within an individual trip to Italy come together here.

The Pieve di Santa Felicita and its history

The Pieve di Santa Felicita a Faltona has been documented since 1016 under the place name Larciano. In 1305, a community of canons existed at the Pieve, including Neri, the brother of Sant'Andrea Corsini. A tall 12th-century bell tower is attached to the Pieve. These historical references give Faltona a clearly recognizable sacred and medieval character, which fits well into a trip with a historical focus.

Chapels, windows and ceramics

The details of the sacred furnishings also lead through different periods. In the right-hand chapel of the SS. Annunziata at the Pieve di Santa Felicita a Faltona, there was a stained-glass window depicting Santa Felicita and her seven children; the window is no longer on site. The Oratorio della Compagnia della SS. Annunziata on the left side of the façade of the Pieve di Santa Felicita a Faltona was built or reconstructed in 1730. Ceramics are located in the Rosary Chapel of the Pieve di Santa Felicita a Larciano in Faltona. In the area around Faltona, the Museo d'Arte Sacra Beato Angelico also preserves a stained-glass window from the mid-15th century, which was originally installed in the window of the apse area of the Pieve di Faltona.

The Faltona Valley and archaeological interest

The historical perspective extends beyond the church into the landscape. The discovery of Neolithic material at La Ruzza in the Faltona Valley was reported as early as 1929. In addition, an area in the locality of Faltona in the municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo is classified as an area of archaeological interest in Italy under Article 142, letter m, of Legislative Decree 42/2004. Alongside architecture and sacred art, early traces of human history thus emerge as an independent aspect of the area.

Historic routes and cycling routes

Faltona can also be viewed through its connections within the network of routes. The valley of the Torrente Faltona was already crossed during the Roman Republic by a road connecting Faventia (Faenza) with Florentia and Faesulae. On its descent towards Mugello, the Via Faentina passes through Faltona and touches the Romanesque Pieve di Santa Felicita there. For cycling enthusiasts, Faltona is connected with the cycling route description “Vetta Le Croci (Olmo)”: it leads from Serravalle onward to Faltona and then to Polcanto.

Putting Faltona into context for your trip

When choosing a hotel for your trip to Italy, you can assess Faltona according to your preferred focus. The Pieve complex, its chapels, the bell tower and the artworks appeal to travelers who want to explore sacred architecture and historical connections in greater depth. The Faltona Valley, La Ruzza and the archaeological classification add landscape and early history to this perspective. Those who place routes at the center of their plans will find further themes for their personal trip planning in the historic course through the valley, the Via Faentina and this cycling route.

Further places for orientation

Ronta, Luco Mugello, Gricignano, Sagginale, Grezzano

To the higher-level travel overview: Borgo San Lorenzo.