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Cerreto Guidi
Home to the Medici
The Comune of Cerreto Guidi stretches over hills prevalently given over to agriculture, in particular vines and olives.
The carefully tended and well-preserved countryside is studded with farmhouses, farm estates, villas and small churches, all typical features of the Tuscan hill landscape. |
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The first historical accounts relating to Cerreto Guidi date back to the year 780. Known until 1079 as Cerreto in Greti, its name changed after the area fell under the dominion of the Conti Guidi, who built a castle here. From 1085 onwards, their power became purely nominal and the Florentine Republic held sway, and then, from 1273 onwards, Cerreto’s destiny became completely intertwined with that of Florence.
| The key phase in Cerreto’s history came in the 16th century, under the Medici, who ordered the building of major architectural works such as the Complesso Mediceo. This includes a villa hunting lodge, occupied since 2002 by the Museo Storico della Caccia del Territorio; a farmhouse and a splendid, monumental stairway leading to the villa, which is attributed to Buontalenti. |
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Adjoining the Medici villa is the Pieve di San Leonardo. The structure of the belltower suggests it was originally the chapel of the castle of the Conti Guidi. The building has been remodelled and restored a number of times over the centuries, and the only surviving part of the medieval building is the lower section of the belltower. The church houses a number of fine works, including a polychrome, glazed terracotta baptismal font attributed to Giovanni Della Robbia, dating to 1511, and a canvas depicting San Leonardo associated with the work of Cristofano Allori (1577–1621).
Along the road running round the hill occupied by the Medici complex is the Oratorio della Santissima Trinità; the present structure dates to 1607, though it has been restored on a number of occasions since then.
Inside there are fresco paintings executed in the 18th century, and the building’s finest work, an altarpiece dating to 1587. A recent restoration has brought to light the name of the artist – Domenico Cresti known as ‘il Passignano’. |
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Rather more out of the way but an equally important place of worship for the local community is the Santuario di Santa Liberata. The sanctuary probably dates to 1336, when, according to an ancient tradition, an oratory was built here and dedicated to the Virgin as a mark of gratitude for the liberation of the town from the troops of Mastino della Scala.
The continuous and increasing reverence devoted to Santa Liberata has meant that the building has been carefully looked after and restored by the local community.Inside, off the nave, there are four richly decorated chapels with stone altars dedicated to the Madonna Addolorata, Santa Cristina, Santa Liberata and San Giuseppe.
Comune di Cerreto Guidi
Via Vittorio Veneto, 8 – 50050 Cerreto Guidi
tel. 0571 9061 - fax 0571 558878
e-mail: urp@comune.cerreto-guidi.fi.it
Population: 9,555
Size of area: 50 km2
Altitude: from 13 to 125 m above sea level
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