San Vivaldo: Chapels, Art and Forest

San Vivaldo combines religious heritage with a wooded setting. The Sacro Monte di San Vivaldo is located in the Selva di Camporena, beside the Franciscan monastery. The woodland around the Sacro Monte di San Vivaldo covers about 400 hectares. Two themes therefore stand out when planning a trip: the chapels and church art of the area, and trekking routes connected with San Vivaldo.

Chapels and artworks of the Sacro Monte di San Vivaldo

The buildings of the Sacro Monte di San Vivaldo contain frescoes and groups of unbaked terracotta figures from the Della Robbia school. Their subjects are inspired by episodes from the Passion and the life of Christ. Wall paintings and sculptural figure groups are therefore among the complex’s different artistic forms. The materials and subjects offer two points of interest for anyone interested in religious art.

The Chapel of Santo Sepolcro is the devotional focal point of the complex. It consists of two structures: a square antechamber and a circular burial chamber. A sarcophagus in the burial chamber contains an unpainted statue of the dead Christ. The contrast between the antechamber and the burial chamber highlights the chapel’s two geometric forms; the sarcophagus provides a specific visual motif within them.

The route through the complex, understood as a sequence of scenes, reaches its endpoint at the Chapel of Noli me tangere, where Mary Magdalene recognizes the risen Christ.

Churches and religious art

The church of San Vivaldo is a simple, single-nave building in the Franciscan tradition, built on an older structure. The relics of Saint Vivaldo are kept in an urn dating from the 15th century beneath the altarpiece. The church also houses the painting “Madonna con Bambino in gloria con San Giovanni, San Girolamo, San Francesco e San Vivaldo”. The church of S. Maria Assunta e S. Francesco contains a glazed terracotta Nativity scene attributed to Benedetto Buglioni, as well as the painting “Vergine e santi”, attributed to Raffaellino del Garbo. Together, these works offer different subjects and forms, from the Nativity scene to the painting with saints.

Trekking and trail conditions

The complex lies at the center of a 100-kilometer network of trails created by the municipality of Montaione. One specific trekking route, Montaione–Tre Ponti–San Vivaldo, passes the chapels of Jerusalem. The Montaione–Fiume Egola variant crosses the Egola River, also known as the Evola. The two routes can be distinguished by these described features: one passes the chapels, while the other includes a river crossing.

The Montaione–Fiume Egola variant is intended for more experienced hikers. The section along the river is also more suitable for experienced hikers and should be avoided during heavy rain. If you are considering this variant, take the rain warning into account and check trail conditions before setting out. This will help you keep the stated route requirements in mind when planning.

Discover more destinations: Alberi, Iano, Zona Industriale Comiti, Sughera

Go to the main travel overview: Montaione.