The Jerusalem of San Vivaldo
A pilgrimage through woods and chapels, where the art of terracotta reveals the Passion of Jesus in the heart of Tuscany
In Tuscany, hidden in the woods of Montaione, lies one of the most fascinating destinations for those who love to combine nature, art and spirituality: the Jerusalem of San Vivaldo. This extraordinary complex of chapels, also known as the Sacro Monte di Toscana, is more than just a religious site—it is a symbolic journey, a map of the heart and faith, traced out among the trees and silence of the Selva di Camporena.
It was the community of Montaione in 1487 to have offered the Franciscan friars this mystical forest, where first a small church dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Francis arose, followed in the following decades by an articulated system of chapels inspired by the holy places of Jerusalem. The idea was bold: to offer pilgrims unable to make the trip to the Holy Land an equally intense and engaging experience while remaining in Tuscany.
The complex is distributed according to a precise topographical and iconographic order, modeled on earthly Jerusalem. The current 17 chapels (34 were originally planned) are symbolically connected to the stages of the Passion of Jesus. But what makes this place unique is the way the sacred stories take shape. Each chapel houses extraordinary sculptural groups in polychrome terracotta, the work of artists linked to the workshops of Giovanni della Robbia, Benedetto Buglioni and Agnolo di Polo, the latter having trained at the school of Verrocchio.
These sculptures are not mere decorations but true three-dimensional theatrical representations, with life-size figures that seem to emerge from the earth to engage visitors in a living, exciting narrative. In this sacred theater, you don’t merely watch but participate by walking among the scenes, becoming a witness to the mystery.
Among the most striking chapels are Monte Sion, with the Cenacolo and Pentecoste, the House of Anna and the House of Caifa, scenes of the Going to Calvary and Crucifixion, then finally the Holy Sepulcher. The path ends ideally at the Chapel of Noli me tangere, where Mary Magdalene recognizes the risen Christ. A gesture that seals the entire journey: from suffering to hope, death to rebirth.
Visiting San Vivaldo is not just a cultural experience, but an act of inner reflection. Here, nature embraces faith, art becomes storytelling, and the forest becomes an expansive sanctuary, where every step is a silent prayer and every gaze is filled with wonder. San Vivaldo is an invitation to slow down, to listen, to find meaning once more. This place speaks to the mind and heart, a small miracle of beauty and harmony nestled in the most authentic Tuscany.
For more information, see montaioneintuscany.it.
