| The
area
For the lovers of the nature, a walk on the slopes of the
hill of High Monsummano constitutes an unlosing occasion,
just because the morphologic and orogenetic particularitities
of the hill and the rare vegetation that it covers make
one of the more evocative places of the chain of the Montalbano.
The naturalistic curiosities could be satisfied
covering the many possible routes through the ancient roads
or, for less expert, following the GEOLOGIC PATH of the
Hill of Monsummano, realized from the Communal Administration
in 1988. The character of the THERMAL COVES, among the most
famous in their kind in Europe, links to the particular
morphology of the Hill of Monsummano where it is possible
to read the geologic history of the region. The conformation
of the hill is, moreover, associated to peculiar characteristic,
like the presence of numerous various spontaneous orchidee
which have been marked until 24 species.
The town
Monsummano is a nice town placed in Valdinievole.
The town isn?t too big and the people are good. Monsummano
is over-looked by High Monsummano, with its great quarry,
where you can see a magnificent panorama of Monsummano,
Montecatini, Padule, Montevettolini.
The town of Monsummano Terme was born in consequence
of the union of the ancient municipality of MONSUMMANO,
MONSUMMANO ALTO and MONTEVETTOLINI. It has three historic
centers: Monsummano Alto and Montevettolini have a medieval
origin, Monsummano was founded in seventeenth century.
Monsummano Terme is a thermal resort in the northern part
of Tuscany, near Florence, Pistoia, Montecatini and Lucca.
The wonderful natural environment and the ancient historical
background of the area allow pleasant walking tours and
interesting cultural visits.
Monuments
The town of Monsummano Terme has several monuments and buildings
very important for their history and architectural pattern.
The most importants of them are:
THE SHRINE OF THE MADONNA OF FONTENUOVA
THE HOUSE OF THE POET GIUSEPPE GIUSTI
MARTINI'S VILLA
THE INN OF THE PILGRIM
THE CHURCH OF SAN NICOLAO IN MONSUMMANO ALTO
THE MEDICEAN VILLA IN MONTEVETTOLINI
THE ORATORY OF MADONNA OF THE SNOW
IN THE CHURCH OF SAN NICOLAO
On the left altar the valuable Seicento Annunciation by
the Tuscan school appears in a very bad state, just like
the formellas showing Scenes from Mary's and Christ's lives
on the altar opposite.
The most interesting work in the church is the big wood
Crucifix on the high altar dating back to a period between
the 14th and 15th Centuries
Sports in Monsummano
Monsummano's territory gives several opportunities to do
sports.
One can walk, ride a HORSE or a mountain bike to cover the
paths going through the " PADULE DI FUCECCHIO "
(Fucecchio's marsh) or linking Monsummano up to the hills
of MONTEVETTOLINI and MONSUMMANO ALTO , where the "SENTIERO
GEOLOGICO" (Geological Path) has been set up.
The outdoor sports facilities include the
18 hole GOLF COURSE the Vecchia Pievaccia and the TENNIS
COURTS located at Cintolese.
The great number of sporting facilities
encourages the development of several sports. In fact, there
are GYMNASIUMS , SOCCER GROUNDS, VOLLEYBALL, a FIVE-A-SIDE
GROUND , a SWIMMING POOL , a RACE TRACK, two BASKETBALL
indoor stadiums.
The CYCLING has many practisers, and there
is a new BOWLING GREEN . There are, moreover, a BOWLING
ALLEY and a MODEL CAR TRACK.
THE THERMAL BATHS
In Monsummano Terme exist thermal caves with therapeutical
peculiarities: natural warm caves, nowadays flanked by modern
watering places, where is applied cave therapy, suitable
for neurarthritis, for circulatory diseases, for affections
of respiratory organs, for rehabilitation after fractures
and traumas, for dermatologic and gynaecological disorders.
The thermal baths effect moreover massages, antitiredness
treatments, revitality and beauty programs. more
informations.
MONSUMMANO ALTO TOWN
The hill of Monsummano rises 340 meters above sea-level
at the northern foot of Montalbano.
Today some ruins of the ancient castle, surrounded by a
two-kilometer long, elliptic circle of walls, as well as
two of three doors still remain: the north-west door of
"Nostra Donna" (Our Lady) and the so-called "Porta
del Mercato"(Market Door) or "Porticciola"
(Little Door). The latter is almost intact and faces the
hill of Montevettolini. At the end of the walls a solid,
pentagonal tower is still standing. It dates back to the
beginning of the 14th Century and it is one of the most
imposing towers in the province.
The CHURCH OF SAN NICOLAO is the best preserved building
in the village. It was built over-looking the ancient platea
communis in the 11th Century.
On the northern side there is the
ancient Church of San Sebastiano. In front of it the foundations
of two buildings and fragments of ceramic from various ages
were found during recent excavation. On the western side
there are ruins of a convent almost hidden by the undergrowth
surrounding the heart of the castle, and on the eastern
side ruins of the ancient Spedale di San Bartolomeo (Hospital)
appear next to the tower.
MONTEVETTOLINI TOWN
a little hill near Monsummano alto hill.
At the north western foot of Montalbano the borough of Montevettolini
rises, at 187 mt. above sea-level. It was founded on the
top of the hill around the 12th century.
The Medicis chose Montevettolini as their
rest place for hunting and at the end of the 16th century
Ferdinando I entrusted Gherardo Mechini and Domenico Marcacci
to build the imposing villa, today known as Borghese, at
the western end of the surrounding walls.
Ruins of the surrounding walls ando of one
of the six castle defence towers, the so-called "Torre
dello Sprone" or "Torre delle Murina" can
be seen to the West of the built-up area. The entrance to
the village consisted of the tree following gates: the so-called
"Porta del Cantone", which was incorporated into
the Medicean villa, and the "Porta del Vicino"
or "del Malvicino", later called "Porta dei
Barbacci", the only one which is still undamaged.
In the borough there were the oratory of
San Francesco to the West of the church, and that of Corpus
Domini built in Bargellini's square, which today is the
seat of the local Music Society, founded in 1863.
The thirteenth-century Town Hall still shows
the podestas' coats of arms hanging on the facade, and it
incorporates an ancient guard tower to the right. A medieval
tower was used as a church blefry as well, which was built
in the 15th century in the place of the older one, which
had been incorporated inside the ecclesiastic building.
A chapel dedicated to San Michele, belonging to "San
Giovanni Battista" and "San Lorenzo a Vaiano"
's parish church, had risen in the place of the church since
the 12th century. It was enlarged over the centuries, then
it was raised to parish after the wuppression of the parish
of Vaiano in 1449, when it was dedicated to San Lorenzo,
too.
Montecatini
terme its about 3 km from Monsummano and its a thermal
lively, modern and hospitable town, but strictly bound to
the past. It boasts of ancient, scientific, artistic and
human traditions;the waters of Montecatini date back to
500 millions years ago.
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