Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontenuova

A Medici sanctuary at the heart of Monsummano

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontenuova is one of the most distinctive historic buildings in the Valdinievole. The present church was founded in 1602 at the request of Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici, after local devotion had grown around an older painted tabernacle and a spring traditionally associated with a miraculous end to drought. Designed by the grand-ducal architect Gherardo Mechini, the sanctuary was completed in 1605 and became the focus around which the lower town of Monsummano developed.

What to look for

Walk around the elegant portico, which embraces three sides of the church, before entering. Beneath it are fourteen lunettes painted between 1630 and 1633 by Giovanni da San Giovanni. Their lively scenes recount the sanctuary’s origins and miracles attributed to the Madonna della Fontenuova. Inside, the historic tabernacle is incorporated into the high altar, while the richly decorated wooden ceiling holds important seventeenth-century paintings.

The spring and the town’s story

A steep stairway from the portico leads towards the fountain linked to the sanctuary’s founding tradition. The building is more than an isolated monument: it explains why the modern town grew on the plain below the older hill settlements. Pair the visit with a walk through Piazza Giuseppe Giusti and the nearby Museum of the City and Territory, housed in the former pilgrims’ inn commissioned to receive worshippers travelling to the sanctuary.

Planning your visit

The sanctuary is an active place of worship, so access may vary during services and religious celebrations. Dress respectfully, keep voices low and avoid flash photography where requested. The building stands in central Monsummano Terme and is an easy cultural stop to combine with Montevettolini, Monsummano Alto or the area’s thermal attractions.

Sources
Visit Tuscany — Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontenuova
Municipality of Monsummano Terme — Religious art
Diocese of Pistoia — Fontenuova pilgrimage, July 2026
Cover image: Sailko, CC BY 2.5 / CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons