Carmignano

Monuments

La Rocca
Of the Fortress, at least as far as the ancient stuctures and fortifications are concerned, only a few vestiges remains.
It was probably built in the X or XI century, then it became a very well fortified stronghold, even if it had to yield more than once to the superiority of the besiegers.

St. Michele and the Pontormo painting
The church of San Michele was originally a Franciscan monastery. Its construction dates back to the 13th century but its external classic style arcade of the late 16th century is the result of the subsequent restorations.

The adjacent Renaissance style cloister has a square shape, surrounded by a portico. The one-nave interior contains frescoes of the 14th and 15th century; among them there is one portraying "San Cristoforo" which is attributed to Andrea di Giusto.

The beautiful oil painting portraying the "Visitazione" hangs above the second altar, to the right. It is one of the real masterpiece of the Mannerism which was painted by Jacopo Carrucci, called "Pontormo", in the first half of the 16th century.