Church in Lecchi in Chianti, Sienna, Tuscany, Italy

Church in Lecchi in Chianti 
Sienna, Tuscany, Italy

"South of Radda, Lecchi in Chianti lies at the foot of a hill surmounted by the tumbledown castle of Monteluco. The quaint hamlet is lined along the main road which rises upto Ama. With its distinctive stone houses and dignified church, this backwater looks much as it did in medieval times. It was then an area of great estates linked to landowners such as the Ricasoli wine barons. Crowning the hill is Monteluco castle, which dates back to 1176. The castle was a Sienese bastion but battered in attacks in the 15th and 16th centuries. The fortifications feature a ruined hilltop fort surveying the Massellone valley, backed by a limestone watchtower below. Local walks link Lecchi to the lovely hamlet of San Sano, complete with home-cooking in a quiet inn. Trails through vineyards fan out from Lecchi, including a walk to Localita Molinaccio for a summer swim in river pools." (Link 1.)

Church Shrine

Church Plaque

Notes by RW:  This town, about 35 miles from Florence, was where Florence sent its undesirables to be exiled.  Specifically they sent them to what was called the Marlboro Ghetto.  The Malborghetto is now a well known restaurant.  The church, now seemingly in active, was the church of the exiled undesirables.

Poster at Malborghetto Restaurant:  "The Restaurant's name, Malboroghetto, comes from the Renaissance Period where the word was used to indicate border outposts where evil doers and politicians too famous to be killed were sent. ...."

Church Wall and Steeple

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Photos: Taken in Sept. 2018 by RW while travelling to Italy for the L'Eroica Classic Bike Race.
Link 1: https://www.to-tuscany.com/travel-guide/towns-villages/central-tuscany/lecchi-in-chianti/
Link 2: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g616196-d1490967-Reviews-Ristorante_Malborghetto-

                                                                          Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

Church of the Medonna-2017

Church of the Medonna
Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Church of Medonna-2018

"Montalcino is a hill town and comune in Tuscany, Italy. It is famous for its Brunello di Montalcino wine.

"The town is located to the west of Pienza, close to the Crete Senesi in Val d'Orcia. It is 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Siena, 110 kilometres (68 mi) from Florence and 150 kilometres (93 mi) from Pisa. The Monte Amiata is located nearby."(Link 2.)

Sanctuary

"The church of the Madonna del Soccorso in Montalcino was built in 1330 on the remains of the medieval little church of Porta al Corniolo, where it is believed that an age-old panel depicted the Virgin Mary was once displayed for local veneration. The building underwent radical expansion from 1478 to 1480, and was finished as late as 1609. The facade, work on which started in 1794 based on designs by Francesco Paccagnini, was completed in 1829. 

 Sanctuary Window

The interior is home to Baroque altars with works attributed to the Sienese Stefano Volpi (Holy Family) and Francesco Vanni (Crucifixion)." (Link 1.)

Church of the Medonna

Eroica Montalcino Balloon Celebration

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Photos: Taken in May 2017  and 2018 by Richard Wilson with his iPhone while participating in the 2017 and 2018 Eroica Montalcino. (See Link 3.)
Link 1: http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/site/en/highlights/Church-of-the-Madonna-del-Soccorso-Montalcino/
Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montalcino
Link 3: http://www.tuscanbike.it/corsa/vacanze-19-Eroica-Montalcino--7-Maggio-2017?lang=en&

                                                              Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                                                January 1, 2017

Propositura di San Niccolò, Catholic Church
Piazza Della Chiesa 4

Propositura di San Niccolò, Catholic Church/St. Nicholas Center
Radda, Chianti, Tuscany,Italy

"Radda in Chianti is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 35 kilometres (22 miles) southeast of Florence and about 15 km (9 miles) north of Siena."(Link 3.)

Detail above front door

"Roman Catholic Radda in Chianti, Tuscany Italy The church was first mentioned in 1260. Damage was so extensive in World War II that only past reports and inventories provided information for restoration. The last reordering took place in 1969 to reorient the main altar in accord with the Second Vatican Council changes. The rectory is inside the church on the left; the Chapel of the Society of St. Gregory the Great and St. Mary of Graces is adjacent on the right of the facade." (Link 1.)

Altar

"...a church of Romanesque origins that houses a venerated wooden Crucifix of the 15 C."  (Link 2.)

Lectern and Statue

Statue


Rose Window seen on outside front of church

Photos: Taken in Radda, Italy on iPhone by RW while  at the 2016

                 L'Eroica  Classic Bike Race in Tuscany, Italy.

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Link 1: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/galleries/gazetteer/5254/
Link 2: http://www.radda.org/
Link 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radda_in_Chianti

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)