The architecture incorporates elements derived from the monastic-Burgundian art (hanging semi-columns of the facade), perhaps due to the proximity to the Francigena road and others of Lombard artistic influence, such as in the lantern. It is made entirely of white travertine blocks.
On the right of the facade, enriched by blind arches, remain the remains of the ancient cloister which was located in front of the church. The two semi-columns surmounted by capitals belong to it: one is decorated with a bird with a long neck and large beak, inserted between two stylized palm leaves, the other by two human figures, one male and one female (perhaps Adam and Eve) separated by a tree (perhaps the forbidden tree).
On the sides, along the entire attic of the church, you can see a series of blind arches supported by small shelves and crowned by a frame with branches, weaves and animals; other decorations also cover the lantern on the outside.
On the façade there are stone ornaments with simple linear motifs alternating with crosses and lion figures. But the particularity of the church are the beautiful stylized human heads, sculpted in the round and all different from each other.
The interior has a single Latin cross nave on the typical model of the Vallombrosan churches. The space between the hall and the presbytery with the transepts is separated by an archway resting on hanging semi-columns, a typical motif of the Florentine Vallombrosan churches. The presbytery area is divided into three distinct sections: the two lateral sections formed by the arms of the transepts which have a barrel vault and the apse deeply embedded in the sack-like masonry. The ecclesial hall is covered with trusses in plain sight. On the right side there is the portal that gives access to the monastery and three single lancet windows very similar but offset from those on the left. Leaning against the side walls there are semi-columns that have capitals with very protruding pulvini.
Once you enter the church, the first two you meet are those who decorate the semi-columns in the center of the nave and both show two figures of prayers or perhaps of caryatids divided by a column and dressed in tunics of different shapes; the figures on the left represent two monks threatened by a snake. The capitals placed to support the central arch have a foliage decoration but have the pulvins decorated with racemes and five-pointed flowers. All the other capitals have a simple foliage decoration.
Translated by Google •
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