Pieve di San Pietro in Figline
An ancient church documented since 1183
The ancient Pieve di San Pietro is located in Figline, in the municipality of Prato, and has an exterior structure made of alberese stone with serpentine inserts, testifying to its medieval origin, as reflected in documents dating back to 1183.
Between the late 13th and early 14th centuries it was enlarged with the addition of a transept and bell tower. It was given the title of pieve in the early 15th century and then returned to simple priory status in the 17th century. Inside the church, which has a Latin cross plan, is covered by a wooden truss ceiling and contains numerous frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries.
The Museo della Pieve
The church gives access to the small Museo della Pieve, where, in addition to paintings and sacred furnishings, a number of early medieval finds and various achromatic earthenware artifacts dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries from local kilns are on display.
The museum was built to preserve artifacts from excavations carried out during the restoration works to the parish church in the 1960s, during which a 14th century burial ground and the remains of the apse of the early church were rediscovered. In the first room, the Hall of the Ceramics of Figline, are finds recovered under the presbytery from a 14th century kiln built in Figline and some valuable paintings from the 15th to the 17th centuries. The Treasure Hall displays mainly artifacts from the church.
