Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
P
Piazza della Repubblica
The Piazza della Repubblica
(also known as the Piazza del
Seminario) occupies a long,
narrow space dominated by
the decorated façade of the
17th-century seminary. The
frescoes and
sgraffito
(scenes
scratched out of plaster) on
the façade show allegories
of the Virtues painted below
quotations from key religious
texts, for instance the writings
of Pope Gregory (540-604).
To the right of the seminary
are several well-restored 15th-
century shops. Buildings like
these can be seen in many
medieval frescoes, such as
Lorenzetti's 14th-century
Good Government (see p46).
Piazza Farinata degli Uberti in Empoli
Empoli
9
Road map
C2
.
of Tolentino
(1445), in the
second chapel on the north
side, shows Empoli as it was
in the mid-15th century.
*
43,500.
V
@
Via Giuseppe del Papa 98
0571 76 115).
n
(
Thu.
Vinci
0
Road map
C2
.
An industrial town, special-
izing in textiles and glass
manufacturing, Empoli is
worth visiting for the excellent
Museo della Collegiata.
*
2,000.
@
(
Wed.
This hilltop town is the
birthplace of Leonardo da
Vinci (1452-1519). To cel-
ebrate his extraordinary genius,
the 13th-century castle in
the centre of the town
was restored in 1952
to create the
Museo
Leonardiano
. Among
the displays are
wooden models of
Leonardo's machines
and inventions, based
on the drawings
from his notebooks,
copies of which are
shown alongside.
These range from
his conception of a
car, to an armoured
tank and even a
machine-gun. A pair
of skis, designed for
walking on water,
show that he could
occasionally miss the mark.
The museum is best avoided
on Sundays, when it can be
extremely crowded.
Close to the museum is
Santo Stefano church and the
font in which Leonardo was
baptized. His actual birthplace,
the
Casa di Leonardo
, is 2 km
(1.25 miles) from the town
centre at Anchiano. This simple
farmhouse is worth visiting if
you feel like a pleasant, unde-
manding walk through superb
poppy fields; but don't expect
P
Piazza Farinata
degli Uberti
Empoli's arcaded main square
is surrounded by a number
of 12th-century buildings,
notably the church of
Sant'Andrea, with its
black and white
marble façade. The
large fountain dating
to 1827, with water
nymphs and lions, is
by Luigi Pampaloni.
Façade of the seminary in Piazza
della Repubblica
E
Museo Diocesano
d'Arte Sacra
Piazza Duomo
.
Tel
0571 41 82 71.
#
E
Museo della
Collegiata di
Sant'Andrea
Piazza della Propositura 3
.
Tel
0571 762 84.
#
10am-1pm, 3-7pm Tue-Sun
(Nov-Mar: to 6pm).
&
Located next to the Duomo,
the Museo Diocesano d'Arte
Sacra contains a number
of important 15th-century
works gathered from local
churches. These include a
Crucifixion
by Filippo Lippi
and a terracotta bust of Christ
attributed to Verrocchio.
9am-noon, 4-7pm
Tue-Sun.
¢
public
Pietà
by Masolino
in Museo della
Collegiata
& relig hols.
&
The museum contains
a collection of
Renaissance paintings and
sculpture. Of particular interest
are Masolino's
Pietà
fresco
(1425) and a marble font by
Rossellino, dating to 1447.
T
Rocca
#
10am-7pm Tue-Sun.
A staircase behind the Museo
Diocesano leads towards
Frederick II's ruined 13th-
century Rocca (castle). While
the remains are run down,
the site offers extraordinary
views along the entire Arno
valley, from Fiesole to Pisa.
R
Santo Stefano
Via dei Neri
.
#
for concerts & exhibitions.
Visitors to Santo Stefano
can see fresco fragments by
Masolino, dating to 1424, and
two 15th-century Annunciation
statues by Rossellino. Bicci di
Lorenzo's painting,
St Nicholas
