| Dreaming With time, human patience combined with nature and care, have created the beauty of Monaciano. The first documents about settlements in Monaciano date back to more than 1000 years ago. Some buildings still “tell “ about ancient and recent wars, fires, Saints’ pilgrimages, churches and patience human labor. The place, where the village of Cellole is now located, was given in 998 to the monks of San Miniato by the Bishop Lamberto. In that place was built a church dedicated to San Martino, which was visited many times by Santa Caterina from Siena (Patron of Europe) during her pilgrimages to the Charterhouse of Pontignano, situated at the beginning of “Valle Santa”. During drought period the farmers would call the rain by going on a procession carrying the wooden Christ of the little church of San Martino (now on display in the museum of Pinacoteca in Siena). Nearby was located the church dedicated to Santa Petronilla, then converted into a farm building and now called Piturnella. During the last war the allied forces repossessed the farm and the Villa in order to accommodate the “Alto Comando” of the Mediterranean. First the English Marshall Alexander , then the American General Clark stayed in the Villa’s rooms together with their officers. Instead the Villa’s warehouse hosted the other parts of the troops. |
|
|