ポンタッシエーヴェのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

A stretch of undulating forest trail, often rocky with a short stretch of sloping sandstone, connecting Pratellino to Madonna del Sasso.

An ancient 17th-century butter factory, located about ten meters from the path leading up to the Giogo. Still well preserved, thanks to restoration of the vault, it features three basins and a dairy shelf with a central gutter.

Valley spring, reached after a short walk by following the path on the right (orographic left) above the sanctuary. In very humid and rainy seasons, it becomes a torrent.

Marian shrine dating back to the 15th century, built on the site of a pre-existing medieval monastic oratory from the 10th/11th centuries. It was later expanded in subsequent centuries, reaching its current 19th-century structure. Beautiful view of the valley below.

The small church of Montefiesole, dedicated to San Lorenzo and declared a Marian Shrine by Archbishop Betori in 2018, has been a Jubilee Church since the 17th century, with the distinction that Jubilee Indulgences could be obtained there in the year following the Jubilee. It has asymmetrical gables and is connected to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso and the Monastery/Sanctuary of Monte Senario by a perfect straight line. It houses a painting, attributed to Cimabue and believed to be miraculous, depicting the Virgin (Madonna del Parto). This is what the Pievani manuscript states: "...In the Parish Church of San Lorenzo, that ancient miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary painted by Cimabue is preserved and venerated. Every 25 years, a solemn celebration, exhibition, and procession are held during the celebrations of the first days of May, which are commonly called the Holy Year of Montefiesole because every 25 years it follows the year after the Holy Year of Rome... and on this occasion, a vast population from Tuscany and Romagna gathers, as evidenced by the descriptions of these celebrations." The Church is normally closed, except when there are liturgical celebrations, cultural events, or concerts.

Breathtaking views and passages

Burraia di Fonterinalda

With a steep climb you quickly reach this beautiful sanctuary located in a panoramic position over the Sieve valley. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Sasso is part of the Parish of Lubaco - Diocese of Fiesole - and is located above the town of S. Brigida, Municipality of Pontassieve. On 2 July 1484 the Madonna appeared with Baby Jesus in the arms of two little sisters named Ricovera, on the rock adjacent to a tabernacle near a hermit settlement (later incorporated into the Sanctuary), which was the refuge and oratory of Saint Andrew of Scotland (actually of Ireland, also called Andrea Scoto), brother of Saint Brigid of Ireland, the Saint who chose as a place of hermitage a cave not far away, about 2 km, where the town that will take the name of Santa Brigida will later arise. Between 1484 and 1485, the Madonna appeared several times to the Ricovera shepherdesses, asking that a church be built in that same place because, she told the two Ricovera shepherdesses: "Here I like to be venerated and from here to pour out graces on those who ask me for them". But it was the great apparition of the Madonna with the Baby Jesus in her arms in front of all the people, several hundred people who were gathered there to pray on 22 August 1485, that definitively resolved the doubts about the previous apparitions and gave the final push to the construction of the Sanctuary, which was completed in 1504. Between 1615 and 1675, the large portico facing the facades was also built, so that the numerous pilgrims could find refuge there in case of bad weather.