(p. 5) is Giglio, Lat. Igilium (1634 ft.; 8½ sq. M. in area), a consider-
able island (2350 inhab.) containing granite-quarries and vineyards. Near
the harbour, Porto, are vestiges of a Roman palace. A steamer plies
every morning, except Sun., from Porto Santo Stefano (p. 5) to Giglio,
returning in the afternoon.
4. From Florence to Siena viâ Empoli.
59 M. Railway in 2¾-3½ hrs. (fares 11 fr. 5, 7 fr. 75, 5 fr.); through-
carriages by some trains. In summer express trains run on Tues., Thurs.,
and Sat. in 2¼ hrs. (fares 12 fr. 15, 8 fr. 50 c.).
From Florence to (19½ M.) Empoli (Rail. Restaurant) and
thence to Pisa and Leghorn, see Baedeker's Northern, Italy.
The line to Siena ascends the fertile valley of the Elsa, on the
right bank of the stream. To the right, on the hill, stands San
Miniato, once an imperial palace of Frederick Barbarossa. — 22½ M.
Ponte a Elsa; 26 M. Granaiolo. — 30 31. Castel Fiorentino;
the town, on the slope (354 ft.) to the left, is the principal place
in the Val d' Elsa.
About 7 M. to the S.W. of Castel Fiorentino (diligence thrice daily
in 1 hr.) lies the small walled town of Montaione (1121 ft.; Alb. Ciulli,
R. 1 fr.), with 3673 inhab., 3½ M. to the S.W. of which is the Franciscan
monastery of San Vivaldo, which possesses fourteen glazed terracotta
groups illustrating the Passion, perhaps from the school of the Robbias.
35 M. Certaldo (426 ft.; Albergo della Stazione, Via Umberto
Primo, near the station, R. 1½ fr.), with 4522 inhab., lies on the
hill to the left. It was the family-home of Giovanni Boccaccio,
who was born at Paris in 1313, and died here in 1375. A statue
of him, by Aug. Passaglia, was erected in the principal square in
1879. In the upper part of the town is the church of Santi Michele
e Jacopo, in which the poet was buried; it contains a memorial
tablet of 1503 and a bust by Giov. Rustici. Close by is the Casa
di Boccaccio, which was restored in 1823 by the Marchesa Lenzoni-
Medici, and furnished with old household-effects. The tower com-
mands a pretty view. The Palazzo Pretorio, which is adorned with
coats-of-arms, contains some defaced frescoes.
A carriage-road leads to the S. from Certaldo to (7 M.) San Gimignano
(p. 18; one-horse carr., 1 pers. 3, 2-3 pers. 4, there and back with 5 hrs.,
stay 5 or 6 fr.; two-horse carr. 8 or 12 fr.).
Before reaching (39½ M.) Barberino di Val d' Elsa San
Gimignano is visible for a short time on the right.
43 M. Poggibonsi (Alb. dell' Aquila, opposite the station,
R. 1-1½ fr., well spoken of); the town (7886 inhab.) lies to the
right. On the hill 1 M. to the S. rise the old Fortress and the
monastery of San Lucchese. In the church of the fortress is an
altar-piece (Noli me tangere) and in the former refectory are fres-
coes by Gerino da Pistoia.
From Poggibonsi to Colle di Val d'Elsa, 5 M., branch-railway in
17 min. (75, 45 c.). Carriage (see p. 18) with one horse½, with two
horses 3½, there and back 2½ or 5 fr. — Colle di Val d'Elsa (Venezia,