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S. Godenzo:
the abbey |
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The history
The Benedictine Abbey of S. Godenzo in Alpe was built in 1208 by Jacopo il
Bavaro, Bishop of Fiesole.
The abbey lies along what used to be – and as a matter of fact still is
today – the major route between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas.
 It
hosted a lively community of Benedictine monks until the mid 1400’s; then
the religious community called “Servi di S. Maria” (whose symbol is still
on the facade) inhabited it.
During the centuries, the village of San Godenzo developed around the
abbey.
The simple stone facade has a front flight of steps. Restoration works
completed in 1919-21, brought up to the light its austere Romanesque
style. The presbytery is raised from the floor level and below it is a
small crypt.
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The works of art
- Bartolomeo
Sinibaldi called Baccio Da Montelupo,
> San Sebastiano
statue in lime-tree wood
(1506);
- Bernardo Daddi and his workshop, polptych, dating 1333, from the convent
of S. Salvatore a Monte in Florence, representing
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Madonna
with Child and saints
- "Annunciazione", attributed to Cristoforo di Francesco called il Franciabigio (1482-1525).
Also worth noting, is the pulpit
attached to the sixth pillar of the central nave, carved out of a local
stone named “serena” (1529). In the crypt, the mummified body of St.
Godenzo.
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Dante Ghibellino
On the 8th of June 1302, this church witnessed an important historical
event: the convention of the Ghibelline and White Guelph Florentine
political exiles, among whom there also was the poet Dante Alighieri.
“Dante Ghibellino” is the name of the event commemorating this historical
convention. It takes place every year at the end of June, with conferences,
dinners, commemorations in period costumes and special celebrations.
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