Chiusdino: what to see where San Galgano born
Chiusdino is a “classic” medieval hamlet located atop of a hill in the Val di Merse. The village was probably founded during the Longobard domination (between the 7th and the 8th centuries). We know for sure that in 12th century there was a castle property of the bishop of Volterra; the Counts della Gherardesca and the Repubblica di Siena have fought for this castle during the Middle Ages. In 1230 Siena won this competition and conquered the fortress. During this period the village was provided by two defensive curtain walls that are still partially preserved.
What to do and what to see in Chiusdino
According to tradition, Chiusdino is the village where was born Galgano Guidotti alias San Galgano around the half of the 12th century. Inside the hamlet is possible to visit the Saint’s childhood home; for a period this house hosted the Confraternita di San Galgano. This confraternity created two oratory here: the cappella di sopra and the cappella di sotto. Later, in 1801 the confraternity moved in the chiesa di San Sebastiano.
Among the other places of worship in the village, the most important are the Chiesa di San Martino and the Propositura di San Michele Arcangelo. In particular, chiesa di san Michele preserver a couple of paintings by Alessandro Casolani (late 16th century) that represent “San Galgano praying ” and the “Madonna of the Rosary“.
Museo civico e diocesano di arte sacra di San Galgano
The Museo civico e diocesano di arte sacra di San Galgano of Chiusdino was created in 2015 thanks to the Comune di Chiusdino and the arcidiocesi di Siena-Colle di Val d’Elsa-Montalcino. The museum is housed inside an historic palace, palazzo Taddei. Inside we can see an interesting collection of Sacred art, mostly coming from the churches of the surrounding land.
The museum is composed by ten thematic halls and hosts art-works as the Madonna with Child by Niccolò di Segna (1336), San Galgano putting the sword in the stone by Urbano da Cortona (1446) and San Galgano going to Montesiepi by Giovanni di Agostino (14th century).
Address: via Umbero I 19
Opening hours: every day 10.00-19.00
Tickets: regular 3,50 euro; reduced 3 euro; free for kids till 6 years
For more informations about the museum, please consult the web site of Pro Loco di Chiusdino.
What to see around Chiusdino
About 3 kilometers from Chiusdino, we point out the presence of the Mulino delle Pile, which probably many of you know as Mulino Bianco. Yes, it’s exactly the mill that we knew through the Barilla commercials! …if you too have grown up with Pan di stelle and tegolini, you can’t miss a visit to the Mulino delle Pile!
Last but not least, of course we have to mention the wonderful Abbey of San Galgano, one of the most important monuments of the entire tuscan countryside and also the nearby Cappella di San Galgano in Monte Siepi where is the Sword in the stone that belongs to San Galgano.
