Convento dei Cappuccini

Just outside the town of Borgo San Lorenzo, heading towards Scarperia, perched on a hill that offers a panoramic view of the largest town in Mugello, the Convent of the Capuchins is a place of great historical and spiritual interest. Founded in the 16th century, the convent has been a religious and cultural landmark for the local community for centuries, hosting prominent figures of the Capuchin order and preserving precious works of art. Today, although no longer home to an active monastic community, it continues to captivate visitors and scholars with its understated architecture and the allure of its history. The convent was established around 1578 by the citizens of Borgo San Lorenzo, eager to have a place of prayer and spiritual assistance managed by the Capuchin Friars Minor. The name of the order comes from the distinctive pointed hood that characterizes their habit, a symbol of humility and evangelical poverty. The Capuchins, a reformed branch of the Franciscan Order, were known for their simple way of life, their interaction with the population, and their itinerant preaching. Their presence in the lower Mugello marked an important phase of local spirituality, with a strong commitment to religious education and assistance to the needy. The Capuchin friars were renowned for their care of the sick and the poor, as well as for the hospitality extended to pilgrims and travelers. Over the centuries, the Convent of the Capuchins has been home to numerous guardian fathers and significant friars. Among the most famous are Fra' Benedetto da Firenze (17th century) – a preacher and spiritual guide, renowned for his sermons and his commitment to the local community, Fra' Giovanni da Borgo (18th century) – a historian and writer, author of texts on the life of the Capuchins in Tuscany, Fra' Girolamo da Pistoia (19th century) – a healer and herbalist, skilled in preparing natural remedies for the sick in the area. Despite the typical simplicity of Capuchin constructions, the convent preserves valuable artistic and architectural elements. The Church attached to the convent, characterized by a modest facade and an austere interior in the Capuchin style, features a baroque wooden altar crafted by local artisans in the 18th century. Paintings from the Florentine school, including a canvas depicting Saint Francis in ecstasy, attributed to the circle of Jacopo Vignali. A seventeenth-century wooden crucifix, an object of particular popular devotion. The convent also housed a library with manuscripts and texts on Franciscan spirituality, unfortunately partly dispersed over the centuries. Among the legends and curiosities, it is said that during a period of severe drought, a Capuchin friar prayed intensely for water to return to the area. Shortly after, near the convent, a small spring appeared, known as the "Friar's Spring." According to local tradition, on windy nights, one can still hear the echo of the monks' prayers, as if their voices had been imprinted on the ancient walls of the convent. Historical documents suggest that the convent hosted San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio, a great Franciscan preacher, during one of his missionary journeys through Tuscany.

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