From Porta Fiorentina to Uzzano

From Porta Fiorentina, following the old path that runs alongside the Agricultural School, you reach the locality of Querceta, above Ricciano, where the Furicaia stream flows under its characteristic brick bridge. Climbing the "Erta," we then arrive in Uzzano and reach the Church of Madonna del Canale. This was built in 1623 on the site of an ancient roadside shrine; on the facade, under the portico, there is a recent fresco representing the Madonna del Canale. The church has a simple structure and houses two paintings by the 17th-century Uzzanese painter Alessandro Bardelli: Saint Margaret of Scotland and Saint Apollonia. The fresco above the main altar depicts the Virgin Mary between Saints James and Martin, the patron saints of Uzzano. The unique feature of this work is located at the base of the painting, where the unknown artist supposedly painted a view of Uzzano on the right (perhaps the village seen from Selva Bella in Via Fonte di Maggino) and a view of Pescia on the left.

(cit. Alessandro Birindelli)