Scandicci

Scandicci, one of the most populated towns within the Florentine area, and has very ancient origins. The Latin toponym: scandere = to go up, alludes to the green hill on top of which used to be situated a stunning medieval castle.

Scandicci's history, from the XII century, has been strongly related to Settimio's Abbey: huge religious organism that reclaimed the area and was given public functions from the Florentine state.

The very heart of the town offers the magnificence of Castello dell'Acciaiolo, battlemented fortalice, delimited by a huge marvellous garden. The castle was built at the beginning of the XIV century by Rucellai and got its name from the noble Florentine family of Acciaioli, that owned it for a long time. Suggestive place where past and present are mixed together, giving the idea of a magic context cut off from the world! Here you'll enjoy some important art and music festivals during summer..

The most important churches in town are St Maria a Greve and St Bartolo in Tuto that, in spite of the numerous restoration works and tranformation thay have suffered througout the ages, have hended down precious works of art, like the XIV century painting representing the Virgin with Infant Jesus by Giovanni da Milano, once preserved into the old church of St Bartolo in Tuto, nowadays visible into the modern church of St Bartolomeo in Tuto, nearby the town hall.

On top of the hill, where once was located the castle, today there's the lovely old church of St Martino and the beautiful complex of Villa Passerini, with the ex Agrarian Institute annexed to the complex. Walking down the hill, in proximity to Bagnese, you'll find the XIII century church of St Giusto a Signano, that now presents a XVII century façade with a double depressed arch, while inside keeps jealously a precious painting dating back to the XIV century, with the Virgin, Infant Jesus and Angels attributed to Bernardo Daddi.

From the first Thursday of October enjoy the great annual fair!