Discover Sant'Appiano: Pieve, Antiquarium and hotels

Sant'Appiano brings together the Pieve di Sant'Appiano and an Antiquarium whose finds come from several locations. Visitors interested in architectural history and archaeological objects will find a range of historical reference points here: from remains dating to the 8th century BC to a painting from the first half of the 15th century. The Pieve is both a historical landmark in its own right and the first stop on a local route.

Pieve di Sant'Appiano: architectural history and surroundings

A document dating from 990 mentions the Pieve. Its pre-Romanesque architectural elements include parts of the left aisle, the apse and the crypt. The apse is the usually semicircular-ended area of a church; a crypt is a room beneath the church building. These terms help distinguish the surviving elements without assigning them all to a single construction year.

The baptistery's history also has its own defining date: the ancient baptistery of Sant'Appiano collapsed in 1805 as a result of an earthquake. Archaeological remains of a complex dating to the 8th century BC were also discovered near the Pieve. These finds point to a period much earlier than the Pieve's written mention and its pre-Romanesque architectural elements.

The Pieve itself stands on a picturesque hill surrounded by tall cypress trees. It is the first stop on the local route “Luoghi e storie dell’arte romanica: un viaggio tra pievi e chiese medievali”. This makes it possible to view the Pieve in the context of a route devoted to Romanesque art and medieval churches.

Finds and art at the Antiquarium Sant'Appiano

The Antiquarium Sant'Appiano is housed in the Pieve. Its archaeological finds come from Sant'Appiano, San Martino ai Colli and Semifonte. The collection therefore includes material from several named locations. The exhibits include Etruscan grave goods from tombs discovered at San Martino ai Colli. They date from the 7th to the 2nd century BC. This broad time span makes the grave goods a different historical reference point from the individual works of art dated to later periods.

A red-figure column krater dating to the 4th century BC is also among the exhibits. “Red-figure” refers to the depiction technique; “column krater” names the type of vessel. A Hellenistic alabaster urn combines a relief of the Abduction of Proserpina with a lid decorated with a semi-reclining male figure. Here, the material, subject and lid decoration can be distinguished as different features of a single work.

A sandstone sculpture showing a putto riding a dog is displayed in the second room. The only painting on display 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. Together, the grave goods, vessels, urn, sculpture and panel provide a varied picture of the collection, whose objects cannot be reduced to a single period or genre.

Two different route references

The route devoted to Romanesque art and the “Anello di Sant'Appiano” are two different route references: in the first, the Pieve is included as a stop on a route between parish churches and medieval churches. The “Anello di Sant'Appiano” circular route starts at the Pieve di Sant'Appiano. If you are planning this circular route, check the current route arrangements in advance. This keeps the site's historical context separate from the practical planning of a route.

For choosing a destination, the Pieve and the Antiquarium offer two clear focal points: the architectural history of a religious building and a collection of archaeological and artistic objects. The different dates and find locations help put these subjects into context. Sant'Appiano is therefore a destination to consider for a trip focused on cultural history and the places mentioned here.

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

For the main travel overview: Barberino Val D'elsa.