Evidence of a church at the site of the Parrocchia S Santa Maria
Maggiore exists from the 8th Century but this church was only
documented from 931. The Church was rebuilt in the Gothic style
after it passed to the Cistercians in the 13th Century. The
basic Cistercian structure is identifiable from a division
of naves and aisles by pointed arches above square piers and
three chapels in the east end. A late-antique head known as
'Bertha' is set into the truncated Romanesque Belfry. 14th-Century
frescoes showing 'King Herod and the Massacre of the Innocents'
in the sanctuary are attributed to the Jacopo di Cione and
Mariotto di Nardo. The chapel to the left of the choir, houses
a painted, guilded bas-relief of the Madonna and Child attributed
to Coppo da Mercovaldo and a column from the tomb of Donatellos
master - Brunetto Latini.
