Collegiate Church of San Lorenzo in Santa Croce sull'Arno

Arriving in Santa Croce sull'Arno, a visit to the Collegiate Church of San Lorenzo, built in the 16th century on a pre-existing church dedicated to the Holy Cross, is not to be missed. The building preserves a work of considerable value, a wooden Christ on the Cross (also called Holy Cross) that recalls the iconography of the famous Holy Face of Lucca.

Santa Croce sull'Arno was, in fact, born as a result of the growing veneration of the Holy Face when the place name was first attested in the late 13th century. The settlement flourished around the Christ on the Cross that was then kept in the ancient oratory of Santa Croce sul Poggetto, attracting the communities that lived along the right and left banks of the Arno River in this area.

The imposing polychrome sculpture is dated to the 13th century and depicts the living image of Christ, with a stern and solemn expression. The connotations, though inspired by those of the Lucca work, are not however identical.

Also on display inside the church is a partially glazed terracotta Announcing Angel, probably of the Della Robbia school.