A Sunday Drive to Certaldo

Sunday, May 19^th 2013 –

Angie’s sister Teresa arrived from NJ late Friday afternoon, and after a spending Saturday in Florence, on Sunday we took a 45 minute drive to the town of Certaldo (chair-TALL-doe).

Certaldo is not your run-of-the-mill historic, 12^th century, medieval hill top town that dots the Tuscan landscape like so many others, its roots run much deeper.  Its origins are easily traced to the Etruscans thanks to excavations in the 19^th and 20^th centuries that unearthed pottery and other artifacts dating to the 2^nd century BC.

Like some other medieval towns Certaldo has a walled historic city center on a hill, with a modern “suburb” of sorts that as grown up outside the ancient city walls.

The Church of Santi Tommaso e Prospero is the oldest church in Certaldo, with one wall inscription dating to 1215.   The church is no longer used for active services, it is used as part of the palace museum, to which it is attached.

Housed inside the church is the Benozzo Gozzoli Tabernacle of the Condemned depicting the fresco, “The Descent from the Cross”. 

The Palazzo Pretorio (Pretorio Palace) is an imposing superstructure that sits at the high point of the old city center.  In the early 1,400’s it was the seat of the Florentine Republic Vicarship and housed local government including the judicial courts, jail, and judicial administration.  It towers above other buildings and bares the coats of arms of its many owners throughout the ages. 

The lower section of the palace and the covered loggia, an alcove of frescos, can be seen in this picture of Angie and Teresa.

Like so many well lived in medieval towns, the Certaldo’s residents augment its beautiful architecture with colorful flowers.

The palace is located right at the end of the main street which can be seen in the background.

Frescos of the official seals and coats of arms leave no doubt about the sovereign authority of Certaldo’s leaders.

Contrasts of old and new:  13^th century frescos carefully revealed by artisans restorers in stark contrast to the modern expressions from the Cinzial Fiaschi exhibition currently on display throughout the palace.

After our walk up to the top of town a break for lunch and our tour of the Palazzo Pretorio it was time to call it a day and head for home.