The Sanctuary of Saint Verdiana was built with the aim of giving a worthy home to the remains of Verdiana, the patron saint of Castelfiorentino, a woman of humble origins, who lived between the 12th and 13th centuries.
Verdiana was a pilgrim to Compostela and Rome and on her return to Castelfiorentino she became a recluse in a small cell - which can still be visited today - inside the church. According to tradition, two snakes entered inside the cell and they remained with her until her death. For this reason snakes have become the symbol with which she is represented.
The structure of the sanctuary incorporates the pre-existing Oratory of Sant'Antonio and the cell that welcomed the saint in the last thirty-four years of her life.
Over the years, the Sanctuary has been modified many times, and the current layout dates back to the early 1700s, so the Sanctuary has become a precious example of late Baroque Florentine architecture and decoration.
Photo credit : Riot Design, Marco Lari e Giacomo Salvadori
Santuario di Santa Verdiana
Via Timignano n. 1, Castelfiorentino
