San Jacopo al Girone

San Jacopo al Girone brings together remembrance culture, church art, and paths along the Arno within a compact thematic area. Here, you will find points of interest for a stay that combines historical sites with walks and a cycling experience. The combination of the Chiesa di San Jacopo al Girone, the Florence War Cemetery, and the paths along the river is particularly varied.

Church with a medieval history

The Chiesa di San Jacopo al Girone was consecrated on February 26, 1989. However, its historical context reaches further back: a rectory church of San Jacopo al Girone already existed in the 13th century. Thus, in San Jacopo al Girone, a more recent architectural expression and a significantly older ecclesiastical historical trace exist side by side.

The church's design also offers a distinctive character of its own. The Chiesa di San Jacopo al Girone was built in exposed concrete using reinforced-concrete construction. Inside, it preserves a panel by Francesco Granacci dating from 1520/1530. The work comes from the church of San Pietro a Quintole, thereby bringing an older art object into the context of the newer church. This interior is complemented by a wooden crucifix attributed to the school of Giambologna (1529–1608).

A place of remembrance on the Arno

The Florence War Cemetery is located on the banks of the Arno near Il Girone and contains 1,632 Commonwealth graves from the Second World War. The site adds an independent remembrance perspective to the ecclesiastical historical impressions. Its location by the river also places it within the Arno landscape, without reducing the memorial site to its surroundings.

Walks, Gualchiere, and cycling routes

The riverside landscape provides a thematic setting for slower-paced activities. On a walk along the banks of the Arno, you can discover the Gualchiere, the surrounding river landscape, and historic water-related knowledge. Another route leads along the Via del Loretino to the Gualchiere del Girone. These are known for fulling wool cloth and give the walk a craft-oriented historical focus.

The “Intorno a Firenze in bicicletta” cycling route runs downhill from Fiesole to the locality of San Jacopo al Girone and then continues along the cycle path on the right bank of the Arno. There is also a combined cycling and walking connection between Piazza delle Gualchiere and Via dell’Arno. It is approximately 700 meters long. This allows you to distinguish between an explicitly described cycling tour and a shorter section for cycling and walking.

Getting there by bus line 14A

Bus line 14A runs from Florence's Santa Maria Novella main railway station to the terminus at Girone. The Florence War Cemetery is approximately 100 meters from this terminus. This information makes the bus connection a specific point of reference if you want to reach San Jacopo al Girone from Florence without assigning an individual travel time to the journey.

Another selection of places in the same broader area is Ellera.

For the broader travel overview: Fiesole.