Santa Colomba
Santa Colomba: a village in the municipality of Bientina
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Santa Colomba, a village in the municipality of Bientina, located in the province of Pisa, in Tuscany.
Physical geography
First of all, I have to tell you that Santa Colomba is located on the top of a hill that bears the same name, between the territories of the plain of Lucca, the Valdera, and the Valdarno. It is located north of the course of the Arno river, opposite the Usciana canal that flows into it. If you love nature and tranquility, this place is perfect for you!
History
The hill of Santa Colomba takes its name from an ancient little church, unfortunately no longer in existence. The location was part of the Montecchio grange in the medieval period, owned by the Certosa di Calci from 1399 to 1827. The cult of Colomba of Sens was brought to the village by the Carthusians in 1706, similarly to what had been done in Bientina (1699) with that of St. Valentine.
Monuments and places of interest
Now let's move on to the monuments and places of interest in Santa Colomba. Here we find the church of the Madonna del Bosco, the parish church of the village, dating back to 1628. It was built at the behest of the Carthusians of Calci, who owned this territory. In 1706, the cult of Saint Colomba was brought there, with the placement of the saint's relics from a Roman cemetery in the church. At the beginning of the 18th century, some modifications were made and restoration work carried out. After 1827, the church was erected as a chaplaincy within the parish of Calcinaia and only became an autonomous parish in 1957. The parish territory of Santa Colomba has 1295 inhabitants. Another place of interest is Villa Marconi, a splendid example of a Tuscan residence from the seventeenth century.
Society
Traditions and folklore
Lastly, I want to talk about the traditions and folklore of Santa Colomba. This village participates in the historical event of the Palio di Bientina, a race that takes place every year. Santa Colomba is one of the nine districts that participate in the event, and has won the Palio twice (1999 and 2000). Its colors are red and yellow.
I hope you enjoyed this brief summary and are curious to visit Santa Colomba. If you have the chance to visit, you won't regret it!
