Carda: Chiesa delle Sante Flora e Lucilla

The first sacred building dates to the IX century, at least. Many changes in property have occurred during the centuries: it first belonged to the counts Ubertini, then to the Arezzo' s monastery of the Ss. Flora and Lucilla (IX century), then to the abbey of Campoleone (1619) and, finally, to the bishop of Arezzo (1400).

The original structure of the oratory (its first door is still visible on the outside) was gradually extended: in 1265 it became a parish church, in 1906 it was enlarged with the creation of the existing chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 1782 and in 1855, two new monumental altars were built and in 1906 the current chapel of the Polittico was carried out as a result of the creation of an external "veroncino" having a façade with a span roof in order to open the central door.
Inside, there are two very precious works of art: a XVI-century sculpture in the round called "Madonna con Bambino" in glazed earthenware probably created either by Santi Buglioni or by Andrea della Robbia. It is particularly loved by the inhabitants of Carda.
Moreover, there is the work "Pietà e Quattro Santi" (St. Giovanni Gualberto, St. Nicola of Bari, St. Giacomo the Maggiore, St. Bernardo degli Uberti) by Mariotto di Cristofano (Masaccio's brother-in-law) Furthermore, there are the "Misteri del Rosario" (1615) by Sebastiano Pontenani from Arezzo and "Gesù Salvatore e Santi" (1696) by Giuseppe Campi.
There is also a confessional of the end of the XVI century, a pipe organ with a wind chest and pipes created by the "maestro" Agati (1802). It is very interesting to see a fragment of serena stone belonging to a Lombard ciborium (VIII-IX centuries) with a cross and a cartouche (representing the book of knowledge) in the middle with two peacocks (meaning the immortality of the soul) at its sides, drinking the water gushing out of the cross.

Toscana Viva ringrazia il Sig. Claudio Sassoli ed il Comune di Castel Focognano per il materiale presente in questa pagina.