The San Vivaldo Monastery, about 8 km from Gambassi Terme near the village of Montaione, is one of the most unusual sacred sites in Tuscany. A hermit named Vivaldo lived in a chestnut tree here in the early 14th century — his remains were found after his death and became objects of veneration. In the 16th century, Franciscan friars built a small complex of chapels around the site, each reproducing in miniature the sacred places of Jerusalem: Calvary, the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Olives.
The result is a sacred landscape unlike any other in Italy — a kind of devotional theme park spread through the woodland, with life-size terracotta figures by the della Robbia school inhabiting the chapels. Not all chapels survived, but 18 remain. It is peaceful, moving, and slightly dreamlike. The site is freely accessible and open year-round, though some chapels are locked; a visit to the monastery for keys is worth arranging in advance.