Sanctuary of Pietrina

The sanctuary of Pietrina is all that remains of the ancient Castle of Pietrina. In the past "Pietrina" was called 'Pietra' while today that name indicates the opposite hill where the are ruins of an old watchtower between the two lakes of Montaione.
The name is remembered for the first time in a document of 1118 further to a donation of two houses "della Pietra" to the church of San Gimignano.

Given from the emperor Arrigo VI to the bishop of Volterra, the castle of the Pietra was conquered by San Gimigano in 1300 and later submitted to Florence.

The sanctuary is dedicated to the Saint Andrea and Agata, and enlarged in 1890, restored in 1927 and from few years ago is part of Volterra diocese.

Just few times ago, in the sanctuary was conserved a paint of "Madonna with Child", made by a Sienese painter Bartolo di Fredi, and today is kept in the bishop palace of Volterra.

The painting remains today only the central panel representing the "Madonna and Child" that holding an apple.
Today the painting is preserved in the Episcopal palace of Volterra and is brought back to the Church of Pietrina only for the holiday that falls on the last Sunday of September during which the procession is done with the presence of the Bishop of Volterra.

The picture is so prayed by the people that in 1988 the Bishop of Volterra, Vasco Bertelli, consecrated the Church of Pietrina as a Shrine.

Today is possible to visit the church, the ruins of the towers, and from a sheer cliff admire a charming and suggestive landscape on the surrounding Tuscan countryside.

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