Lelia & Jonny
Our wedding ceremony is being held at 4 pm at the Badia Fiesolana Church, just outside Florence.
Short History
The original structure was the first Fiesole cathedral until 1026. From 1456 a much larger Abbey (badia) was built. The church’s façade remained rough and incomplete because of the death of Cosimo I, but it includes the small white and green Romanic façade of the 12th century, which recalls the architectural pattern of S. Miniato and of the Baptistery of Florence. The interior has a single aisle and dates back to 1461-64. On the right of the church there's the ex convent, where Cosimo the Elder had a quarter built where he often lived and gathered rare books and codes. Today the ex-convent is the headquarters of the European University Institute.
Directions
From Florence: take the Via Bolognese from Piazza della Liberta’. This is quite a steep (uphill) road with renaissance villas on each side of the road. Stay on this road until you see a sign for Fiesole/San Domenico to the right - take this road called Via Salviati. It is a steep downhill road and at the bottom of the hill there is a traffic light. Go straight over the lights and you immediately start going up another steep hill – this is Via Roccettini which is one-way. The Badia is half way up, on the right-hand side. For parking details see Hints and Tips.
From Bivigliano: follow signs back down towards Pratolino, there you will join (by going left) the Via Bolognese which takes you into Florence. Carry on down the hill through the a few villages including Montorsoli and Trespiano. When you reach the village of La Lastra look out for signs to the left indicating for San Domenico/Fiesole. Take the road to the left (called Via Salviati). From here follow directions as above.
From Fiesole: best route to be confirmed.
A map on how to reach the Badia Fiesolana can be found here.
Hints & Tips
The Badia Fiesolana and Bivigliano are located in hilly countryside and the roads can be uneven, winding and steep – you have been warned! The Badia in a one-way street (going towards San Domenico), half way up a steep hill. It can only be reached along from the direction of the Via Bolognese and Via Faentina. You can only leave by going up towards San Domenico and Fiesole.
As the wedding will be on a working day (Friday), parking outside the Badia may be tricky as the staff and students of the European University Institute will be using those spaces. There is parking at the back of the Badia and we will ensure that signs will be posted to indicate to guests where to go. You will then be asked to walk through the old convent’s cloister to reach the front of the Badia
Address: Via della Badia dei Roccettini, 50014, San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy