Radicofani step by step

Walking for the medieval narrow streets of Radicofani...

The village of Radicofani is worth a careful visit. It is a real pleasure to walk around its medieval centre, sourrounded by stone walls full of history and ancient echoes. The city was at first property of the Abbadia San Salvatore monks, that bought the village in 973. After it passes under the influence of Siena, around the 1000 b.C., and only later the Granduca of Florence expanded his power to this territories, in the 1559 with the famous Cateau Cambresis pax.

The most meaningful monument is the Romanesque church of St. Peter (San Pietro), dated to the XIII century. It is situated in the central part fo the medieval town, just along the Via Francigena route. The building was damaged during the II World War and then after restored in 1946. The inside, that is moved by gothic arches, preserves a wonderful collection of “terracotta” of the Andrea Della Robbia school, as well a number of wooden statues among which detached a beautiful “Madonna col Bambino” by Francesco di Valdambrino.

Arriving to Radicofani from via Via del Maccione and Via Renato Magi, you will arrive at the village entrance, where you can appreciate the Major’s building, an impressive building with numerous old stone coats of arms in its façade. Continuing along the main street, Via Renato Maggio, you can find the Church of St. Agatha, the patron Saint of Radicofani. The Church, dated to the XVIII century, presents a masterpiece by Andrea della Robbia, a terracotta representing Mary with the child and Saints.   

Turning along the old Via Cassia is the Post Palace, a beautiful Medicean Villa, which originally was a hunting house for Ferdinando I, and after then transformed into a hotel and customs-house for travelers. Among the various guests, François Montaigne, Charles Dickens, Pope Pius II and Pius VII stayed there during their journeys. Opposite to the Villa, there is a beautiful stone fountain dominated by a big Medicean coat of arms.