CALCI

HALF DAY TOUR FROM PISA

Calci is a few kilometers from Pisa. It lies at the foot of the Monti Pisani, a small range of mountains that divides Pisa from Lucca. The valley looks like an amphitheater and villages dot its slopes. Calci has always been involved in the bloody medieval wars between Pisa and Florence because of its strategic location.

Nowadays, Calci is a farming town gathered around the Parish Church of SS. Giovanni and Ermolao, surrounded by terraced olive groves and dominated by the Monte Serra peak, covered with pine and chestnut trees.

TOUR

The guided tour will lead you to discover the church, the Parish Church of SS. Giovanni and Ermolao dating from the late 11th century, built as a result of the initiative of Archbishop Daiberto and completed thanks to the generosity of Countess Matilda of Tuscany.

Interesting items in the church include the high altar built from Carrara marble, the 17th century lesser altars, the Madonna with Child between Saints Hermolaus and Francis, an 18th-century oil-painted altar-piece and a 12th century baptismal font consisting of four basins sculpted from a single block of marble and decorated with reliefs, produced by the school of Biduino.

After the guided tour you could have lunch (In this area many ‘trattorie’ are popular among locals and I could help you finding a good one!) Close to the main place, the Calci charterhouse, built in 1366, is one of the largest monasteries in Tuscany. Also known as “Certosa di Pisa”, it’ s a monumental Baroque style building. This monastery was founded in the 15th century thanks to the legacy of an Armenian merchant. The complex features a large courtyard (dedicated to the community life and contacts with the outside world), a series of buildings hosting the monks’ cells, cloisters and gardens. You can visit it on your own or you can book, inside, a guided tour (Tuscany official tourism website).

INFORMATION

The guided tour usually lasts about two hours and takes place in the morning, usually from 10 to 12 or in the afternoon, from 15 onwards, before sunset.

Special requests are always welcome

Special rates are provided for school trips and “senior age” groups.

PRICES

€ 130.00 up to 25 people;
€ 2.00 for each additional person

For further information, requests and payment methods, please contact

info@laurapolidori.it

GALLERY

particolare della Fonte

la Pieve

la Pieve, interno

la Fonte