GALEATA - CODE: TEDGLT
Dominated by the enormous cliff overhanging the Bidente river, Galeata lies in the valley floor and has all the traits of a peaceful, welcoming hillside village. Rich in historical and archaeological sites, the village has highlighted its heritage and discovered a patrimony of inestimable value.
The original town centre is in the small town of Mevaníola, which is a Roman municipium. The site of the ancient town of Mevaníola has been the object of several studies which have brought to light some of the town structures: the thermal building and the small theatre.
Another great archaeological site is “Villa di Teodorico”, probably used as hunting residence by the king.
During the Dark Ages, Galeata was under the rule of the powerful abbey of S. Ellero. The hermit saint retreated here to lead an ascetic life and around the end of the 5th century and the beginning of the 6th century he founded this powerful abbey which, for a few centuries, exercised a great spiritual and political power in the Romagnolo Apennines. The ruins of many castles are the evidence of the vitality of the territory in that period. Galeata later became a free municipality and passed under Florentine rule in 1429. Florentine rule not only left its mark in the layout of the town and in the architecture of the buildings but also in the dialect, popular traditions and food.
In Pianetto there are some important historical sites: for example the church of S. Maria dei Miracoli. Next to the church there is the Renaissance Convent of the Friars Minor, which houses the "Mambrini" Civic Museum and a collection of historical and archaeological findings.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
Archaeological Site of the roman Town of Mevaniola
The original town centre is in the small town of Mevaniola, “small Mevania”, which was probably of Umbrian origins and then became a Roman municipium. The site of the ancient town of Mevaniola has been the object of several studies which have brought to light some of the town structures: the thermal building (partially visible), what is presumed to be the forum area, the small theatre and water tank (visible).
Daily open: Free entrance - Every Days
Archeological Site of “Villa di Teodorico”
Between the end of the Vand the beginning of the IV century a.D. S.Ellero (476 – 558 a.D.), after he had left the Roman settlement, began to build the Abbey and the monastic centre, where he retired to ascetic life.
In the same period, Theodoric, as is narrated in St. Ellero’s biography, came and built his sumptuous residence, a big country house.
The latest researches and archaeological excavations (1998), carried out by the Department or Archaeology of the University of Bologna, show that the villa was provided with an elegant thermal installation, too.
This area had, in fact, both the traditional rooms which were heated artificially (calidarium and tepidarium) and cold rooms (frigidarium).
Connected with this district, the archaeologists have discovered a huge courtyard paved with sandstone and in the middle we can see a big bath, a sort of swimming pool of that time.
From this area there are also interesting pre-roman finds: a little bronze statue representing a knight (middle of IV century b.C.) and some fragments of Attic ceramics (V-IV century b.C.).
All the materials, discovered during the archaeological excavations, are now show in a little room in the Civic Museum “Mons. Domenico Mambrini”, in Pianetto.
S.Ellero and Theodoric are the main protagonists of the legendary encounter, which is narrated in the medieval hagiographic text about the saint’s life.
In Galeata the legend and the archaeological experience interweave.
For further information: phone +39 0543 975428; +39 0543975429; +39 0543 981854
Abbey of Sant’Ellero
The Romanesque sandstone facade (11-12th century) houses a nice portal decorated by capitals with mermaids symbolizing the sin (right side) and praying monks (left side). In 1700 the interiors were heavily modified, even if they still maintain the typical Middle-Age structure with the raised presbyter and the crypt below that houses the late Middle Age sarcophagus (end of 8th and beginning of 9th century) enriched by crosses and containing the Santints remains. The most significant works were transferred to the museum dedicated to Mons. Domenico Mambrini.
For further information: phone +39 0543 975428; +39 0543975429; +39 0543 981854......
Opening hours: Sun 3/6 pm; open at other times by advances reservation.
Castle of Pianetto
The castle ruins (12-13th century) include the boundary wall (more than 300 mt), the tower with a tank and the ravelin, the southern entrance and the donjon dominating the whole building.
For further information: phone +39 0543 975428; +39 0543975429; +39 0543 981854
Open daily (depending on weather conditions) - Free entrance –
Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Pianetto
In Pianetto there are some important historical sites. First of all there is the parish church of S. Maria dei Miracoli, built in 1497 as votive offering, with its magnificent works of art and splendid cloister from which you can see the bell tower. Next to the parish church there is the Renaissance Convent of the Friars Minor, which houses the "Mons. D. Mambrini" Civic Museum and a vast collection of historical and archaeological findings. This museum was set up by Monsignor Mambrini to celebrate his love for his native land.
For further information: phone +39 0543 975428; +39 0543975429; +39 0543 981854
Daily open: Free entrance - Every Days
THE CIVIC MUSEUM “DOMENICO MAMBRINI”
The Civic Museum “Mons. Domenico Mambrini” is housed in the Convent of Friars Minor of Pianetto. Its foundation is the result of the passion for history and local memories by Mons. Domenico Mambrini, archpriest of Galeata from 1907 to 1944. Ever since the first decades of the 20th century, Mons. Mambrini collected archaeological findings of different origin, works of art, books and documents to be displayed in a parish church museum adjacent to the parish church of San Pietro in Bosco.
The Civic Museum was first housed in the Palazzo Pretorio of Galeata, which was not large enough to contain all the objects increasing over the years through new archaeological research works, objects from religious buildings and occasional finds. Due to this lack of space, the Museum was moved in 2001 to the Convent of Minor Friars of Pianetto, which opened in the spring of 2004.
In the new premises, the Museum is divided into two sections: a historic and artistic section showing a number of frescoes from the Church of Pantano and some pictures from the Mambrini collection and paintings from the Uffizi Gallery; an archaeological section with different rooms: room 1 is specially dedicated to Mons. Domenico Mambrini collection with a typologically and chronologically different set of materials (worth of mention is a small Egyptian idol representing Iris enthroned holding Horus); room 2 features preprotohistoric material and focuses also on the settling in Roman time; room 3 contains finds from the site of the Roman city of Mevaniola (Cesius mosaic from 1st century b.C., Rubria Tertullia stele from 3rd century a.D.; the honorary key of Mevaniola from 1st century a.D.); room 5 houses archaeological finds from the site of Theodoric villa; rooms 4 and 6 show early Christian, late medieval and roman fragments, among which the famous bas-relief portraying the meeting between the hermit Saint Ellerus and the Gothic Saint Theodoric (room 6). On the ground floor there is a book-shop by the museum ticket office and a conference room. On the same floor is the research laboratory and material restoration workroom.
For further information: phone +39 0543 975428; +39 0543975429; +39 0543 981854
Opening hours: Sat and Sun 9.30 am/12.30 pm and 3/6 pm; open at other times by advances reservation.
Old centre of Galeata and Palazzo del Podestà
The building (17th century) was the seat of the Podestà sent by the Granduchy of Tuscany to govern Galeata territories: some coats of arms may be still seen on the façade. A remarkable sandstone lion (15th century) still supports the municipality coat of arms. Close to the house rises the clock tower (beginning of the 17th century). The building is home today to the Town Hall Historical Archive.
The arcades, covering the old town’s centre, are surrounded by historical houses decorated with coats of arms. In the same streets you can find the parish church of S. Pietro in Bosco (early Christian origins) and the XVI Century church of Madonna dell’Umiltà.
For further information: phone +39 0543 975428; +39 0543975429; +39 0543 981854
Also of interest: The romanesque Church of S. Maria al Pantano (especially for the facade), the district of Mercatale and Dante’s stone, the Tower of Monte Erno in San Zeno and the Medieval Tower of Poggio Galmino, located around the ancient path of Via dei Romei
For further information: phone +39 0543 975428; +39 0543975429; +39 0543 981854
LOCAL PRODUCTS:
Raviggiolo: Fresh product obtained by the processing of cow’s milk. It is a white and tender dough with a very delicate taste, almost sweet and buttery. It is usually round-shaped and it is from 2 to 4 cm height. It is usually presented on little fern branches.
The Romagnola breed: The Romagnola has a light grey coat, almost white and it presents a considerable muscular development, in particular as far as the forelimbs are concerned. It has black horns, long and well made. It is very suitable for boiled and stewed meat and you can taste it in the many local restaurants.
Tortello alla lastra: It has always been considered one of the specialities of the territory lying between Romagna and Tuscany and it is one of the best “poor” foods obtained by the combination of the products of the lands of the Apennine ridge. It presents itself as a big “raviolo” of 10-20 cm of side and 1 cm thick. Common wheat flour and water for the sheet of pasta dough, adding pumpkin, potatoes, garlic, bacon and pecorino cheese for the stuffing. The name of the product comes from the cooking method on a sandstone “slab”
In Galeata country-side is produced an excellent red wine, in particular the Pertinello Farm produces a “Sangiovese” superior appreciated to a National level.
Stones “arenaria” Carving, typical stone of the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines that finds its origin in Middle ages. The craft of stone-cutter, traditionally related with a family job, is nowadays despairing in favor to industrial farm specialized in restoring the historical centre and in the realization of urban floor and ornaments.
