Santa Maria a Soli

Nestled in the green hills of Mugello, the Church of Santa Maria a Soli is a small gem of Romanesque architecture that preserves its medieval essence intact. Located near Galliano, a hamlet of Barberino di Mugello, the church stands isolated in a rural setting that amplifies its ancient charm, making it a perfect destination for those seeking a place of history and spirituality. The first documentary records of the church date back to 1258 when it was under the patronage of the Florentine bishop's table. However, its construction dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, a period when many Romanesque churches were built in the Tuscan countryside. Most likely, the church originally belonged to the local community or was linked to the powerful Ubaldini family, lords of the Soli castle and the nearby Galliano castle. Over time, Santa Maria a Soli underwent various transformations. In 1756, the original sail bell tower collapsed or was demolished, only to be rebuilt in its current form. During the same period, the presbytery was renovated, adding two side portals that separate it from the choir. In 1787, the church lost its parish autonomy, being merged with that of San Michele a Lucigliano due to the decrease in the local population. This process continued until 1986 when the territory of San Michele a Lucigliano was incorporated into San Giusto a Fortuna, leaving Santa Maria a Soli as a subsidiary church of the parish of San Bartolomeo a Gagliano. Santa Maria a Soli is a perfect example of a rural Romanesque church. Its structure is extremely simple, with a single nave apse plan, typical of medieval Tuscan architecture. The interior dimensions are modest. The gabled facade, in exposed sandstone ashlars, presents itself with sober and essential lines. In the center, above the linteled portal, there is a niche housing a small terracotta bas-relief depicting the Madonna with Child, in a neo-Renaissance style. Above it, a transparent stained glass oculus illuminates the interior of the building. On the right side of the church is the ancient rectory, while the sail bell tower, with a single rope-operated bell, rises at the back. The sides of the building are plastered and painted white, but in several places, the plaster reveals the original stone ashlars, revealing the building's construction history. The interior of the church is essential yet evocative, characterized by white-washed walls and a terracotta flooring with bricks laid in a diagonal herringbone pattern. The ceiling is supported by two wooden trusses, while the roof is made of roof tiles and flat tiles. The central element of the presbytery is the masonry altar, above which is a precious canvas depicting the Madonna in glory among cherubs with Saint Francis and Saint Agatha. On either side of the altar, two eighteenth-century portals with painted faux wood frames give access to the small apse choir, where a wooden bench for the clergy is located. Among other noteworthy elements, a wooden confessional against the right wall, a sandstone font on the opposite wall, and a small tabernacle for holy oils set into the left wall of the presbytery stand out.

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