Holiday apartment in Faltona: Pieve, history and routes through the valley

In the valley of the Torrente Faltona, local history, sacred architecture and older transport routes lie close together. The Pieve di Santa Felicita a Faltona has been documented since 1016 under the place name Larciano. As early as the Roman Republic, a road crossed the valley; it connected Faventia (Faenza) with Florentia and Faesulae. Faltona’s history therefore does not begin only with the medieval written records of the Pieve, but also encompasses an older transport route.

The Pieve and its sacred furnishings in Faltona

Several historical and artistic details of the place come together at the Pieve di Santa Felicita. In 1305, a community of canons existed there, including Neri, the brother of Sant’Andrea Corsini. The right-hand chapel of the SS. Annunziata at the Pieve di Santa Felicita a Faltona contained a stained-glass window depicting Santa Felicita and her seven children; the window is no longer on site. On the left side of the façade, the Oratorio della Compagnia della SS. Annunziata was built or renovated in 1730. The rosary chapel of the Pieve di Santa Felicita a Larciano in Faltona contains ceramics. The Pieve di Santa Felicita is also joined by a tall 12th-century bell tower.

Archaeology, La Ruzza and older traces in the Faltona Valley

The surrounding area of Faltona also contains concrete traces of earlier human history. An area in the hamlet of Faltona in the municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo is one of Italy’s archaeological areas of interest pursuant to Article 142, letter m, of Legislative Decree 42/2004. The discovery of Neolithic material at La Ruzza in the Faltona Valley was reported as early as 1929. The Neolithic material from La Ruzza stands alongside the history of the Pieve, documented since 1016.

Cycling routes and the Via Faentina in the Faltona Valley

By bicycle, the “Vetta Le Croci (Olmo)” route continues from Serravalle to Faltona and then on to Polcanto. When planning a cycling tour, this sequence of places identifies a clear section of route, with Faltona between Serravalle and Polcanto. On its descent towards Mugello, the Via Faentina passes through Faltona and reaches the Romanesque Pieve di Santa Felicita there. For travellers planning historic routes and cycling routes together, Faltona provides the specific reference point between the Pieve, the Via Faentina and the route in the valley of the Torrente Faltona.

A stained-glass window in the Museo d’Arte Sacra Beato Angelico

In the vicinity of Faltona, the Museo d’Arte Sacra Beato Angelico preserves a stained-glass window from the mid-15th century. It was originally installed in the window of the apse area of the Pieve di Faltona; the museum preserves the stained-glass window in the vicinity of Faltona.

Further destinations: Gricignano, Sagginale, Ronta, Grezzano, Luco Mugello

For the overview of the wider travel area: Borgo San Lorenzo.