Bosco ai Frati

The Convent of San Bonaventura in Bosco ai Frati, located in the heart of Mugello, is one of the oldest Franciscan complexes in Tuscany. Immersed in the woods near San Piero a Sieve, the convent has origins dating back to the Longobard era, but its history is deeply intertwined with the Medici family, who supported its restructuring and artistic enrichment. According to tradition, the convent already existed in the Longobard era (7th-8th century) as a small hermitage. In the 13th century, the Franciscan friars took custody of it, turning it into a center for prayer and assistance to travelers. It is said that St. Francis of Assisi himself passed through here during his preaching journeys. The importance of the convent grew in the following centuries, so much so that in the 15th century it was completely renovated thanks to the support of the powerful Medici family. In the 15th century, Cosimo the Elder de' Medici, a great patron and promoter of Renaissance culture, financed the reconstruction of the convent. The task was entrusted to the architect Michelozzo, the same artist who designed masterpieces such as the Medici Riccardi Palace in Florence. Under the patronage of the Medicis, Bosco ai Frati became an important religious and cultural center, frequented by the grand ducal family, who used it as a place for spiritual retreat. In the 16th century, Cosimo I de' Medici and his successors also continued to support the convent, enriching it with precious works of art. Today, the convent preserves a valuable artistic and religious heritage. Among the most significant works is the wooden Crucifix by Donatello. This extraordinary polychrome wooden sculpture, attributed to the great Florentine master Donatello, is a work of incredible expressiveness and spiritual intensity. There are also paintings from the Florentine Renaissance school, commissioned by the Medicis to embellish the convent, as well as reliquaries and sacred furnishings, including ancient illuminated manuscripts and liturgical objects of great historical value. The convent also houses a library with ancient manuscripts and documents, bearing witness to the long history of this place. For hiking and biking enthusiasts, the convent is an ideal stop along the Mugello routes, offering a unique opportunity to discover a corner of Tuscany linked to Franciscan spirituality and the grand history of the Medicis.

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