San Martino A Maiano: Calanchi, Sacred Art and Routes

San Martino a Maiano combines a Calanchi landscape with sacred art and routes between Pian Grande and Certaldo. The Chiesa di San Martino a Maiano is located on Via San Martino a Maiano in Certaldo.

Calanchi landscape with farmland, olive groves and deciduous forests

The ridge of San Martino a Maiano belongs to the Calanchi sub-system, which is regarded as a significant landscape and ecological heritage. Farmland, specialized olive groves and deciduous forests are part of this sub-system. Together, these land types give the ridge a clearly structured form. Between open cultivated areas and wooded sections, a changing landscape emerges in which the Calanchi formations appear alongside land use.

Sacred Art in San Martino a Maiano and Certaldo

The sacred history includes two frescoes from San Martino a Maiano. They were removed from the church in 1963 and painted around 1405 to 1410 by Cenni di Francesco, who is regarded as an eloquent popularizer. The Oratorio di Sant'Antonio is a religious cultural heritage site in San Martino a Maiano in the Certaldo area.

In the gallery of the Convento degli Agostiniani, a fresco panel from San Martino a Maiano depicts Saints Martin of Tours and Catherine of Alexandria. An apparently reworked inscription identifies Benedetto di Baldo as the commissioner. In another gallery, a fresco from San Martino a Maiano depicts the Madonna and Child. It is located in a niche bordered by slender twisted columns.

The Museo d’Arte Sacra in Certaldo opened in 2000. It contains paintings, sculptures, goldsmiths’ works and liturgical vestments, presented in chronologically arranged sections. The chronological arrangement gives the different genres in the museum a shared temporal structure.

Another testimony is Villa Dal Pozzo Toscanelli in San Martino a Maiano. It is privately owned; in 2019, calls were made for its care and protection.

Routes via Pian Grande and Certaldo

The landscape route “Da Canonica a Certaldo attraverso la campagna” leads via Pian Grande to the village of San Martino a Maiano. From there, the route continues southeast, passing near San Gaudenzio a Ruballa. It then reaches Via Certaldese, which leads from Fiano to Certaldo.

Another route runs from Certaldo Alto via S. Maria a Collina, S. Giorsolè, Mugnano and San Martino a Maiano to Pian Grande. From Pian Grande, it then leads back to Certaldo Alto. In this variant, San Martino a Maiano lies within a circular route with several stops in the surrounding area. The two routes differ as follows: the first reaches Via Certaldese, while the second leads back to Certaldo Alto.

Another local idea: Luia.

For the general travel overview: Certaldo.