Church of San Jacopo al Girone

Church of San Jacopo al Girone

The Church of San Jacopo al Girone, located in the hamlet of the same name in the municipality of Fiesole, is another place of worship on the harmony itinerary because it represents the perfect balance between the natural environment and the built landscape, and is the custodian of the marvelous wooden crucifix, attributed to the school of Giambologna (1529-1608).

Its construction dates back to the mid-1970s when, following the expansion of the village of Girone and the increase of the Via Aretina road system, the previous chapel of San Jacopo and the adjoining parish of San Pietro a Quintole had become insufficient for the conduct of worship. Built beginning in 1983 to a design by architect Sirio Pastorini, the church was completed in 1985 and consecrated the following year.

The building, made of exposed concrete, in its structure and some of the furnishings, such as the altar and baptismal font, has an apse and windows with polychrome stained glass windows. The wall box is composed of volumes that create an interesting interplay of projections and recesses. Inside, the strong characterizing element of the single-nave liturgical hall is the ceiling, composed of twenty square lacunars that, supported by four tall octagonal-section pillars, is detached from the perimeter walls. Between the roof and the walls is a continuous band of ribbon windows, while in the apse is a large polychrome stained glass window depicting the Radiant Host.
Outside stands, detached, the bell tower, cylindrical in shape.