Discover San Leonino

San Leonino can be discovered through tangible evidence of churches, winegrowing and historic paths.

Historic churches with distinctive architectural details

The parish church of San Leonino in Conio dates back to the early Middle Ages. In the 12th century, San Leonino in Conio was a pieve with numerous affiliated churches. This tradition therefore describes not only the age of the church but also the town’s ecclesiastical status at that time. The parish church is also described as one of the most important religious centers between Fiesole and Siena. This classification should be understood as a designation and not as an additional indication of a present-day function. The building’s design also offers a specific detail for visitors: the Pieve di San Leonino has a central apse with a double-splayed window opening and a monolithic archivolt arch. Those interested in medieval church architecture will therefore find here not only a historic name but also a clearly identifiable architectural feature.

Vineyards and olive groves of the San Leonino Farm

The San Leonino Farm covers a total of 100 hectares. Of these, 52 hectares are vineyards and 6 hectares are olive groves. The San Leonino Farm has produced wine since the parish church after which it is named and to which it belongs became part of the Lega del Chianti. The history of winegrowing is therefore explicitly connected with the named parish church and its affiliation. For your travel planning, this creates a distinct area of interest alongside the church’s history: you can get to know San Leonino through both its religious heritage and its vineyards and olive groves.

Walking trails and specific directions

The “Visiting San Leonino” walking trail leads to the parish church of San Leonino. At Monsanese Road, this trail is a detour from the Via Romea. The walking trail also leads toward the hamlet of San Leonino. For access to another religious building, you should note one particular feature: the main entrance of the Chiesa della Compagnia di San Leonino in Conio is accessible via stairs; there is no access ramp. This specific restriction applies to the mentioned main entrance and should not be extended to other churches or paths. The S.Leonino walking trail is described separately. It leads from the ancient parish church of Saint Leonino to the Via Romea at Monsanese Road. The differing spelling of the name belongs to the respective trail designation and is helpful for orientation.

October event and regional context

The residents of San Leonino hold a public celebration every year in October in the Romanesque church. If you schedule your visit for this month, the townscape therefore includes an explicitly mentioned event date alongside its architecture and paths. In the wider region, the Via Romea Sanese connects the historic centers of Florence and Siena along an 80-kilometer route. San Leonino is thereby part of a larger historic trail context, while the walking trails described here provide specific orientation in the town and along Monsanese Road. If you would like to consider another location in addition to San Leonino, you can also view LillianoLilliano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Castellina In Chianti.