PIEVE DI GROPINA

The Pieve of Gropina, that is found approximately 2 km from Loro Ciuffenna, on the via dei Sette Ponti (way of the Seven Bridges) towards San Giustino, in order to reach it you must take a deviation to the right, that after 800 m from the crossroad it meets on the left a paving strech of the ancient via Cassia, and then arrive to the village of Gropina. Here is the beautiful Romanesque church of San Pietro or Pieve di Gropina, erected around year 1000 with facade in great stone rough drafts, on the architrave of the door is the date 1422, probably referred to a restoration; the coat of arms of Leone X that dominate the architrave door date 1522. The inside is divided in three aisles with bizarre pillar capitals (in the columns of left the figures tells episodes drawn from the Old and the New Testament, in the right columns the figures recalls the pre-Christian, Etruscan and orientals art). Supported to a column of the nave is the circular Pulpit of the 8th century, rich decorated, supported from two knotted columns, reason that is introduced also in the central column of the external apse. Very beutiful (particularly from outside) is the semicircular apse with double order of columns and discovered girder roof. The bell tower was built in 1233.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE AREA:

Loro Ciuffenna: medieval village.

Le Balze: one of the most beautiful and fascinating landscape aspects of the Valdarno.

The mountain of Pratomagno (m. 1591), from which you can admire a wonderful panorama that goes from the Appennino Casentinese, to Arezzo, to Monte Amiata, from Mounts of the Chianti to Florence.