Discovering Montevarchi

The territory of Montevarchi is told in a story that begins millions of years ago. The Paleontological Museum preserves the remains of animals that inhabited the Upper Valdarno 3 million years ago—elephants, saber-toothed tigers, hippos and giant deer.

The 11ᵗʰ century saw the emergence of the town’s first nucleus after the Marquises Bourbon del Monte Santa Maria built a castle atop the Colle dei Cappuccini to protect a hospital for pilgrims. The area housed the Sant’Angelo Monastery as early as the 7ᵗʰ century, now replaced by the Santa Croce Church and the Ginestra Fabbrica della Conoscenza, a modern cultural space. In the 12ᵗʰ century, Montevarchi entered the domains of the Conti Guidi, who favored the establishment of a “mercatale” (marketplace). But it was in 1254, upon being passed to Florence, that the city experienced decisive growth, becoming a strategic outpost and commercial hub of the Valdarno, developing trade in grain, flax and hemp.

The city’s heart is in Piazza Varchi, where 2 symbols stand out: the Palazzo del Podestà, now home to the town hall and host to exhibitions, plus the Collegiate Church of San Lorenzo, built between the 13ᵗʰ and 14ᵗʰ centuries then enlarged in the Baroque era. 

Created inside the Collegiate Church between 1490 and 1499 was the famous Tempietto Robbiano by Andrea della Robbia, now preserved in the Museum of Sacred Art along with paintings, sculptures and precious liturgical furnishings. Outside the center, the Santa Maria al Giglio Church, with the Madonna del Ponte and the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church, which houses a Holy Family of the Florentine school, all worth seeing.

Since the 19ᵗʰ century, Montevarchi has grown to become a cultural hub of reference thanks to the Accademia Valdarnese del Poggio, which still houses a very rich library and paleontological collections. Instead, the 20ᵗʰ century gifted one of its architectural symbols: Villa Masini (1927), a refined fusion of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Eclecticism. The Villa is also known for being one of the sets of the Oscar-winning film, Life Is Beautiful, by Roberto Benigni.