Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The hermitage has a small church with a Bronzino altarpiece of the Crucifixion and
Four Saints, but the highlight is the Cappella di San Antonio Abate, to the left as you enter
the church building. Inside is an exquisite altarpiece by Andrea della Robbia.
MONASTERY
Santuario della Verna
(
www.santuariolaverna.org
; Via del Santuario 45; 6.30am-sunset)
Dramatically positioned on a
windswept mountainside, this Franciscan monastic complex is where St Francis of Assisi
is said to have received the stigmata and is thus a major pilgrimage destination.
The
Basilica
houses some remarkably fine polychrome glazed ceramics by Andrea della
Robbia and his studio - a
Madonna and Child Enthroned between Saints
to your right as
you enter the church, a
Nativity
on the right before the altar, an
Adoration
in the small
chapel to the right of the altar, saints on either side of the altar, a huge
Ascension
(c 1480)
in the chapel to the left of the altar and a beautiful
Annunciation
in the second chapel to
the left.
The
Corridoio delle Stimmate
, decorated with modern frescoes recounting St Francis' life,
leads to the
Cappella delle Stimmate
, built in 1263 on the spot where the saint supposedly re-
ceived the stigmata. It's decorated with a magnificent
Crucifixion
by Andrea della Robbia
and a smaller
Madonna and Child
tondo attributed to Andrea's studio.
By car, follow signs just outside the hamlet of Chiusi della Verna for the sanctuary or
take the mildly taxing but agreeable 30-minute uphill hike from the
information point
(
0575 53 20 98;
cv.chiusiverna@parcoforestecasentinesi.it
; Parco Martiri della Libertà 21; 10am-noon &
3-6pm Jul & Aug, 10am-noon & 2.30-5pm 18 Sep & 4 Oct)
. The sanctuary is 23km east of Bibbi-
ena and is accessed via the SP208. There is a guesthouse (€55 per person), refectory (set
lunch €18) and bar/cafe on site. Parking is €1 per hour.
Information
Badia Pratáglia's
visitor centre
( 0575 55 94 77;
cv.badiaprataglia@parcoforestecasentinesi.it
; Via
Nazionale 14; 9am-12.30pm & 3.30-6pm Jul & Aug, 9am-12.30pm Sat & Sun Sep-Jun)
carries a
wealth of information about the park and also hires out mountain bikes (€6 per half day,
€10 per day).
