The village of Treggiaia stands in the hills a few kilometres from Pontedera. Its origins seem to date back to Roman times.
The bunk configuration
The layout of Treggiaia reveals its typical castle-like conformation, with access by a bridge that must once have been movable. The village is divided into two sectors: western and eastern. The latter was more fortified, containing the fortress and donjon. Here today we find the parish church.
The settlement runs along a single street, which led from the gate to the lord’s palace and the fortress. Town planning changed radically in the 18th century with the modernisation of the old medieval buildings and the construction of new ones.
What to see in the surroundings
Villa Toscanelli
Nearby is Villa Toscanelli (La Cava locality), owned by the Riccardi family since the mid-16th century.
The current appearance of the villa dates back to two centuries later, when the park surrounding it was landscaped with great sensitivity. The park boasts a beautiful coniferous plantation with various fir, maple, cypress and other species.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Ripaia
A short walk from Treggiaia leads us to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Ripaia, which dates back to the 13th century. The church has a sober gabled façade with a beautiful portal in pietra serena, where the image of the Madonna and Child stands out.
The interior, with a single nave, has undergone renovations including a rectangular apse and a bell tower on the left side, as well as the opening of some Gothic-style windows. The church houses the 14th-century painting attributed to the Master of San Torpé depicting the Madonna di Ripaia, an object of great devotion by the local population.