Santa Maria della Visitazione, the sacred heart Subbiano

Life in the village of Subbiano flows peacefully around one of its main monuments, the Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione. Not far from the Arno River and the village's other unique building, the Subbiano Castle, this church is not particularly large, which only accentuates its pleasant, intimate atmosphere.

With its stone bell tower, it stands at the top of a short climb and is notable for the vibrant color of the plaster on its façade, the result of a recent restoration that transformed its appearance. The church itself is quite old, and its history is closely tied to that of Subbiano Castle. Its original core dates back to the 13th century, and several significant additions were built around it over the centuries, gradually giving it the appearance we can admire today.

From the terrace in front of the church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, you can see the nearby tower of Subbiano Castle, and the history of the church is closely linked to this building.

In the 13th century, the castle church, located outside the main building, became too small and required renovations. During this period, a first expansion was carried out, creating the building that for several centuries, and before becoming Santa Maria della Visitazione, was known as the Parish Church of Santa Maria di Subbiano.

A second expansion was carried out between the 17th and 18th centuries, and finally, the bell tower was added in 1857.

This is how what is now the oldest church in Subbiano was born. Its current appearance, however, is the result of renovations at the beginning of the 20th century, which included the addition of the simple yet elegant portico at the entrance, followed by a few last significant renovations in 1947.

Even before entering the church of Santa Maria della Visitazione in Subbiano, you can see one of its most representative monuments. Beneath the three-arched portico marking the entrance is the monument to Don Lorenzo Boschi. The statue is dedicated to the founder of the hospital of Subbiano and is the work of the Florentine sculptor Arnaldo Zocchi, whose sculptures have crossed the borders of Tuscany and Italy, reaching places such as Bulgaria and Argentina.

Inside the church there is a single nave. Right above the entrance you can admire a painting representing the Deposition, while on the vault of the apse the Coronation of Mary is depicted. Both paintings are the work of the 20th-century painter Giovanni Bassan.

Among the most important works preserved in the church there is also a wooden crucifix with movable arms. Also located in the apse, it has always gathered the affection of the people of Subbiano, as it is believed to be miraculous.

It is a 17th-century work, just like another church's important painting representing the Infant Jesus appearing to Saint Joseph.

As mentioned, the oldest part of the church of Santa Maria della Visitazione was originally the church of Subbiano Castle.

Mostly incorporated into the larger building constructed starting in the 13th century, the old church still exists in some form and is today known as the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes.

A second part of the old church has been incorporated into the building adjacent to the church, which is now a residence.

Inside the chapel, there are still charming traces linking it to its more ancient past, such as frescoes from the second half of the 15th century. The paintings depict Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian and are the remains of a larger pictorial cycle.

The artist is unknown, but the frescoes are a fascinating testimony to the Arezzo school and the influence of Piero della Francesca, one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance.

The Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione is located on Via dell'Arcipretura and, given its proximity to the Arno River and Subbiano Castle, is very easy to reach.

If you arrive by car along the SS71 Valtiberina road, you can park in the immediate vicinity of the historic center, at the public parking lot, and get there on foot in just a few minutes. Other parking lots are located a little further from the center, but only a few minutes' walk.

If you're traveling by train, from Subbiano station you can reach the church with a walk of about five hundred meters, crossing the Arno River via the bridge on Via della Stazione and then following the signs toward the center.