Pontassieve Travel Guide

At Pontassieve it is possible to visit the Old Town Centre, all that remains of the Castello di San Michele Arcangelo al Ponte a Sieve. This is a fortified wall built by the Florentine Republic in the second half of the 14th century, of which the three gates are still visible: to the East the Porta dell'Orologio, to South the Porta di Filicaia and to the West the Porta Fiorentina. In the centre of the castle we can find the Palazzo Sansoni-Trombetta (now the Town Hall). Leaving from the Porta dell'Orologio we can visit the ancient commercial street connecting the Castle to the monumental Medici Bridge on the River Sieve (16th century). After leaving Pontassieve and travelling along the river Sieve, the road rises to the Villa della Pievecchia with its mediaeval tower.

Continuing along this road we reach the villa-farmhouse of Grignano where, on the right, we can see Poggio di Vico, at one time the seat of a castle of the same name. The road rises again to the Monterifrassine Pass. On the ridge we find the deviation for Montefiesole with the Romanesque style Pieve di San Lorenzo and at the top of the hill are the remains of the castle (during the 12th century this was the feudal seat of the Florentine Archbishop).

A short distance before the Pieve is a 4-way crossroads, where we can take a footpath to Villa Tassinaia and the peak of Bardellone, where there is the tabernacle. From the Monterifrassine Pass, looking downhill to Sieci it is possible to see the downhill path to the small church of Santa Maria a Novoli. The road continues past the Bossi. Villa-farmhouse. As we continue along the avenue, we reach the junction to Pontassieve. On the right, descending towards Sieci, we find the Poggio a Remole villa, a 17th century building constructed by the Albizi family around a mediaeval core. Downhill to the left, towards Pontassieve, we find the road leading to the Chiesa di San Martino and then to the spur where the Castello di Quona once stood (destroyed by the Florentines in 1143).

Again leaving from Pontassieve, we can follow another itinerary. Keeping to the road which follows the River Sieve and after passing the slopes of Poggio a Vico, we can see the mediaeval della Torre residence (above the road). We then arrive in Mulino di Ponte a Vico and thence on foot to the remains of the Bridge, possibly of Roman origin, but which was used until the 15th century. Returning to the road, we find the Casellino farm and then move on to Montebonello. Going uphill towards Acone we come to the tall Torre di Montebonello (11th century). At Acone there is the 16th century style Pieve. After Acone we go downhill again, into the valley of Argomenna and cross the road leading to the Villa di Petroio (built by Olivetan monks between the 16th and 17th century). Continuing along this road, we reach Santa Maria in Acone and descend to the bridge of Montebonello. Shortly before the bridge, on the right, we find the deviation for the small churches of San Piero a Sieve and San Martino a Farneto. After returning towards the Casellino farm on the right, we take the road uphill to Villa di Vetrice (an enlarged mediaeval tower).

Continuing along this road we reach Monterifrassine, from whence we can reach the tower-houses of Tigliano. From Tigliano in a left direction we reach Doccia, whereas to the right we climb to Galiga. Taking the second road, to the right, we reach the farm of La Sturaia and shortly afterwards Montalto, with its abandoned church of S. Bartolomeo on the left, which has been surrounded by the rural buildings which now occupy the ancient castle’s site. At Galiga there is the church of San Lorenzo a Galiga.

To visit the most northerly part of the Commune, follow the State Road S.S. 67, go through Rufina and Scopeti until you reach the road on the left leading to Colognole. Following this road we find the Villa di Colognole on the left, then the church of Sant'Ellero with the farm of Palagio opposite. Go through the village of Vicoferaldi and continue along the road, which then becomes an unsurfaced track leading to the Pieve di Scopeto. Close by the Casa del Tamburino we find the path which leads to the peak of Monte Giovi and to the Monument to the Resistance, from which there is a steep path to reach the ancient Chapel of San Giusto.