Parish Church of San Lorenzo in Borgo San Lorenzo

The Parish Church of San Lorenzo in Borgo San Lorenzo is the largest Romanesque religious building in the ancient Florentine countryside. The present-day church dates back to the late 12th century, but documentation indicates the existence of a parish church at this site as early as 934. Its most distinctive elements include the Romanesque stone apse and the massive irregularly-shaped hexagonal brick bell tower, built directly above the apse in the 13th century - a very rare architectural solution.

The interior, with its three naves, is striking for the amplitude of its spaces and contains evidence of the numerous transformations it has undergone over the centuries. In the 16th century, a major restoration project was undertaken by parish priest Damiano Manti, while its current appearance is the result of restorations carried out in the 20th century, which have enhanced the building’s Romanesque character.

The parish church boasts a rich artistic heritage. Among the most valuable works inside it, there is a Madonna and Child attributed to the young Giotto, as well as paintings by Niccolò di Pietro Gerini, Agnolo Gaddi, Piero di Cosimo, Matteo Rosselli, Jacopo Vignali, Francesco Ubaldini, known as il Bachiacca, and Galileo Chini, whose grand Christ Pantocrator dominates the apse. Another notable work is the monumental 16th-century wooden crucifix above the high altar, attributed to the circle of Jacopo Sansovino.

Outside, in the churchyard, stands the monumental shrine dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, created in 1926 by the Fornaci San Lorenzo workshop along with several members of the Chini family.

The Parish Church of San Lorenzo is part of the Art Nouveau Itinerary. Stop after stop, it tells the story of a particular artistic period - that of Art Nouveau - which flourished in the Mugello region thanks to the artistic creativity of the Chini family and its leading figure, Galileo.