Church of Sant'Andrea in Barbiana, Rural Catholic church in Barbiana, Vicchio, Italy
Sant'Andrea in Barbiana is a rural stone church on the slopes of Monte Giovi that combines traditional Tuscan architecture with religious artworks inside. The building has a simple exterior and contains various religious objects and spaces used for community and educational purposes.
The current building replaced a 14th-century church called Sant'Andrea dei Culvalieri, which was initially under the patronage of the Bizzeri family. That family maintained control until 1589, after which the site's history becomes less documented.
The church carries the legacy of Don Lorenzo Milani, who ran an educational center here from 1954 to 1967 where students from different backgrounds learned together. Visitors today can sense how the space was shaped by this teaching experiment.
Visitors need to book an appointment through the San Giovanni Battista parish office in Vicchio by calling the number provided. Planning ahead is essential since the church does not allow drop-in visits.
Students from Don Milani's school created a glass mosaic titled Santo Scolaro using techniques they had learned during an educational trip to Germany. This artwork remains a tangible record of their hands-on learning.
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