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IMPRUNETA
Impruneta, on the top of a ridge from where you have a superb
view over the city of Florence, is a happy country town and is famous
world wide for the manufacturing of bricks, which were already used
by Brunelleschi to build the cupola of the Florentine cathedral
Santa Maria del Fiore.
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 Impruneta,
surrounded by rolling hills with olive-trees and vineyards, preserves
many art and historical remains from its glorious past, which testify
how man has integrated perfectly with the nature. Impruneta, an Etruscan
settlement, was part of the feud of Buondelmonte during the Middle
Ages until 1135 when it was conquered by the Florentines.
In the 13th century the fame of the holy image of the Virgin,
, an icon with a black face giving health and fertility, started to
spread and the image is still today preserved in the Basilica di Santa
Maria all'Impruneta. The tradition tells that it was the Evangelist
Luke who painted the icon. The holy icon was taken from Impruneta
to Florence in case of famine, wars or pests. The parish church of
Impruneta became so powerful that it soon comprehended 21 churches
and the village and its small hamlets developed around these churches.
Impruneta followed the destiny of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until
the unification of Italy. Unfortunately, both the town and the Basilica
were seriously damaged by the bombs the 27th of July in 1944.
 A
visit of Impruneta starts at the splendid Basilica Santa Maria with
the portico facing the main square of the town, called Buondelmonti.
The Basilica, built on an Etruscan-Roman sanctuary, was first a small
Romanesque parish church, consecrated in 1060. During the 14th century
the church was enlarged due to the growing fame of the miraculous
image of the Virgin, and completely restructured in the middle of
the 15th century and further on rearranged during the following centuries.
Inside, after the damage caused by the bombarding during the second
world war, the church has been restructured according to the Renaissance
style, and you are here able to see two beautiful shrines attributed
to Michelozzo and decorated with glazed earthenware of Luca della
Robbia. The shrine to on the left-hand side holds preciously the image
of the Madonna dell'Impruneta, which still today in special occasions
is taken to the Cathedral of Santa maria del Fiore in Florence, with
a solemn procession.
From the inside of the church you reach the beautiful cloister
in Michelozzo style and the crypt. Beside the Basilica you find the
Loggia del Pellegrino, built to give shelter to the pilgrims who got
here to venerate the icon of the Virgin, and the Museum di Arte Sacra
which features silver items, jewels and other items from the history
of the Sanctuary. Especially interesting is the marble bas-relief
which represents the Finding of the Image of the Madonna, attributed
to Michelozzo or Luca della Robbia. The peak of the Monte delle Sante
Marie is worth a visit thanks to the splendid view.
 You
reach the top by taken the road that was built for the processions
and features 15 small tabernacles. The surroundings of Impruneta should
be seen without hurrying in order to discover villas, parish churches
and historical sites located in a magnificent landscape. Mezzomonte,
Pozzolatico, San Gerosolè, Bagnolo, Quintole and Le Rose preserve
palaces from the 15th century, Romanesque churches and tabernacles
surrounded by the green hills with olive trees and vineyards. Montebuoni
preserves its medieval town built by Buondelmonti and the houses are
today sold to private buyers. The Chiesa della Vallombrosina, a nice
building from the 14th century on the top of a mountain with the same
name, and the remains of the old Spedale di San Giuliano, built by
the monks of Vallombrosa are still preserved in the surroundings.
The most typical product of Impruneta is the terracotta. Brick-works
and precious floors, vases, conchs, oil jars, statues and other adornments
are exported all over the world. The antique tradition to work the
mud and cook it in order to manufacture everyday items goes back to
1098.
 Still
today the manufacturing of artworks and decorations for villas and
gardens is lively. The tradition goes from father to son. But Impruneta
also have excellent farm products thanks to the fertile land and the
mild climate. Among the wines it is worth to mention the Chianti dei
Colli Fiorentini and Prunellino, a young wine recently made by the
local wine-producers. The quality of the extra virgin olive oil is
excellent, among the best oil in Italy.
Worth to mention among the festival is the Festa dell'Uva (the grape
festival) which is celebrated every year the last Sunday in September.
The four quarters of the town compete in making allegoric carts dedicated
to the wine and the grapes. The Fiera di San Luca has antique origins
and is held during the week of the 18th October, the patron's day
and also features a cattle market, dinners, the selling of local products,
the Palio (Race) with horses and donkeys between the four quarters.
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