“A church named after a milestone?” you might ask, eyebrows raised. Yes, indeed! We are standing before the Chiesa di Santa Maria a Quarto, its very name a whisper of the past. This unassuming church, nestled amidst the rolling Tuscan hills, takes its name from a rather humble source: the Roman mile marker – the fourth, to be precise – that once stood here on the ancient Via Cassia Adrianea. Picture Roman legionaries marching past this very spot, their sandals kicking up dust as they traversed this important road. The Chiesa di Santa Maria a Quarto has borne witness to centuries of history, its story interwoven with the rise and fall of empires. Though records of its exact construction date are lost to the mists of time, documents as early as 1224 mention this place of worship, indicating its existence in the 12th century. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, has seen its share of struggles. In the 14th century, it faced severe financial hardship, its congregation described as a “societas pauperrima” – a community of the poorest kind. Yet, like a phoenix from the ashes, it underwent periods of restoration and expansion, each era leaving its mark on the building we see today. The imposing bell tower, a familiar sight on the Florentine skyline, dates back to 1828. Inside, the Chiesa di Santa Maria a Quarto might surprise you. While the elegant simplicity of its facade hints at Romanesque origins, step inside, and you’ll discover a touch of the neo-Gothic, a result of a significant restoration in the 1930s. This blend of styles, a testament to the church’s enduring presence across the ages, is just one of the many fascinating facets of the Chiesa di Santa Maria a Quarto.
Santa Lucia alla Castellina
“A sanctuary of art and faith””. You might say that about many places, but here at Santa Lucia alla Castellina,