Sant'appiano: Parish Church, Antiquarium and History

Those interested in sacred architecture, archaeology and art on a trip to Tuscany will find several specific points of interest in Sant'appiano: the Pieve di Sant'Appiano, the Antiquarium housed there, and finds from various archaeological sites. The parish church stands on a picturesque hill surrounded by tall cypress trees.

The parish church and its historic routes

The Pieve di Sant'Appiano was already mentioned in a document dating from 990. It preserves pre-Romanesque architectural features, including parts of the left nave, the apse and the crypt. This brings together an early written mention and specific architectural elements that identify different parts of the church.

The parish church is the first stop on the route “Luoghi e storie dell’arte romanica: un viaggio tra pievi e chiese medievali” (Places and Stories of Romanesque Art: A Journey Among Parish Churches and Medieval Churches). A separate route connection is the “Anello di Sant'Appiano” (Sant'Appiano Loop), which starts at the parish church. Check the latest route arrangements before setting off. On the first route, the parish church marks the start of a journey through Romanesque art and medieval churches; on the Anello, it is the starting point of the loop.

Archaeological finds at the Antiquarium

The Sant'Appiano Antiquarium is housed in the parish church. It contains archaeological finds from Sant'Appiano, San Martino ai Colli and Semifonte. Etruscan grave goods come from tombs discovered at San Martino ai Colli. They date from the 7th to the 2nd century BC; their origin and dating give them a clear connection to this archaeological site and a long period of time.

The exhibits include a red-figure column krater dating from the 4th century BC. A Hellenistic alabaster urn is also on display. Its relief depicts the abduction of Proserpina, while the lid is decorated with a semi-reclining male figure. The column krater and the urn differ in their material and shape as well as in their imagery.

The second room displays a sandstone sculpture of a putto riding a dog. The only painting exhibited in the Antiquarium is a panel depicting the Madonna and Child, John the Baptist, Saint Anthony of Padua and two angels. It was painted by the Maestro di Signa, an anonymous artist from the first half of the 15th century. The panel therefore provides a contrast in date to the ancient finds.

Other layers of Sant'Appiano's history

Archaeological remains of a complex dating from the 8th century BC were discovered near the parish church. Another historical reference is the ancient baptistery of Sant'Appiano, which collapsed in 1805 following an earthquake. The finds near the parish church and the date of the baptistery's collapse point to different chapters in the area's history. Together with the church's mention in 990 and the objects in the Antiquarium, they create a timeline stretching from archaeological traces to 15th-century art.

Discover more destinations: San Filippo A Ponzano, Vico D'elsa, Monsanto, Marcialla.

Return to the main travel overview: Barberino Val D'elsa.