Certaldo is one of the most characteristic villages in Valdelsa, located along the Via Francigena, also known as the village of Boccaccio, Italian writer of the fourteenth century considered as one of the fathers of the Italian language.
Its interest lies in its suggestive medieval village, called Castello, or Certaldo Alto, located on top of a hill. It is well preserved, with its streets and buildings all in pink bricks protected by its old walls. You can access it through one of the beautiful old gates, to which lead the old streets Costa Alberti and Costa Vecchia, or the more modern via del Castello. It can also be reached by the funicular located at Piazza Boccaccio in Certaldo Basso.
A unique feature of the village is the absence of a central public square with the function of agora, public and commercial gathering, whose role was probably taken by the current Via Boccaccio. On it are displayed the main church, the Pretorio Palace and the Market Lodges. The arches of these ones, now walled, can be seen on the walls of the Stiozzi Ridolfi Palace.
It should also be mentioned that the historic center was restored after the Anglo-American bombing of the second world war.
Certaldo Alto hosts a street theatre festival in July, bringing life to the streets every night, with its 36th edition in 2024.
Thins to see in Certaldo
The museum system brings together the Pretorio Palace, the Museum of Sacred Art and the House of Boccaccio.
Main gates and streets
Certaldo is accessed through one of the three beautiful gates: Porta Alberti (14th century, now walled), the main gate Porta al Sole (facing south, with the arms of the Medici) and Porta al Rivellino from the 16th century, which dominates the Via Francigena.
Its main street is Via Boccaccio, with the major buildings. Then you have beautiful views of the Via del Rivellino and others.
Pretorio Palace
The major building of Certaldo is the Palazzo Pretorio or Palazzo dei Vicari (the Florentine magistrates), built from the 12th century at the highest point of the hill, where the Counts Alberti resided.
On the front and inside are numerous coats of arms of the families of the vicars who governed there. The decorative crenellations date from the 19th century. The clock tower dates back to the 15th century.
It is visited, with the hall, the old prisons, audience room, archive rooms, chapel and apartments. The exhibition includes frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries.
San Tommaso e Prospero Church
Next to the Palazzo Pretorio, the small church of San Tommaso e Prospero dates back to the early 13th century, in a Romanesque-Gothic style.
It preserves magnificent 15th century frescoes in its nave.
Santi Jacopo e Filippo Church
The church of Saints Jacopo and Filippo preserves the remains of Giovanni Boccaccio and the patron saint of Certaldo, Giulia Della Rena. The interior is bare, but preserves a beautiful crucifix by Petrognano from the 13th century, a large altarpiece by Giovanni Della Robbia and the bust of the 16th century Boccaccio by Giovan Francesco Rustici.
Boccace House
This house pays tribute to the poet and writer Giovanni Boccaccio, via Boccacio 18, where he lived at several periods, including the end of his life when he died in 1375.
Museum of Sacred Art
The Museum of Sacred Art, opened in 2001, occupies the space of a 15th-century Augustinian convent, which houses paintings (from the 12th to the 16th centuries), sculptures and sacred objects from the churches of Certaldo.
Certaldo Basso
Certaldo Basso is available in stores, bars and restaurants.
Gallery
Where is Certaldo, map
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Links and sources
- Tourist portals: www.visitcertaldo.com
- General informations: en.wikipedia.org
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