Discover Fornacelle

Fornacelle is one of Montemurlo’s historic founding settlements and lies along the old Via Montalese toward Montale. Several layers of history can be distinguished here: the place name refers to lime and brick kilns from the 15th century, the parish was established on a specific day in 1986, and Villa Giamari connects its architectural history with the municipal library. When planning your trip, it is also helpful to distinguish local points of interest from destinations at the municipal level of Montemurlo.

Place Name and Religious History

The name Fornacelle derives from lime and brick kilns dating to the 15th century. The parish history has a specific later date: on June 5, 1986, the Fornacelle area was established as a parish under the title Santa Maria Madre di Dio. These two details offer different perspectives on the place: one looks back to the 15th century through the origin of the name, while the other records the church’s establishment as an event of the 20th century.

Villa Giamari and Municipal History

Villa Giamari is a Renaissance villa that initially belonged to the Villani family. For decades, Sunday Mass was celebrated in Fornacelle in the chapel attached to the villa. In October 2003, the municipal library moved into the villa; the Municipal Historical Archive is also housed in the library. The villa, chapel, and library thus bring together different aspects of local history: ownership, earlier religious practice, and municipal historical collections. This offers several specific points of interest for a culturally focused trip.

Landscape and Hiking in Montemurlo

The landscape should also be considered at the municipal level of Montemurlo. The protected area of Monteferrato lies entirely within the municipality of Montemurlo. The Via delle Rocche is a separate hiking option: a 44.5-kilometre trail of moderate difficulty that starts at the hill of Montemurlo and its fortified village. The route length and the moderate-difficulty rating are two separate planning details. Check whether both suit the hike you have in mind.

Getting Around

Via Montalese is a named road reference that can help you find your way around Fornacelle: the settlement lies along the old road toward Montale. The Tabernacle del Campo Santo stands on Via Montalese in the Fornacelle area. It commemorates the discovery in whose memory it was built. Together, these provide a specific road reference and a place of religious remembrance.

The church of Santa Maria Madre di Dio is at Via Lamarmora 1. A municipal notice dated December 1, 2025, mentions a defibrillator at the church entrance; check before your trip whether it is still there.

Discover more destinations: Montemurlo, Carmignano, Prato, Colle, Poggio A Caiano, Vernio, Vaiano, Cantagallo

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