Friends of San Filippino has completed the first phase of restoration, making it possible to now enter this breathtaking space. (Be sure to visit our website www.friendsofsanfilippino.org)
The History of Friends of San Filippino
Rita Richardson, co-founder of Friends of San Filippino (FOSF), is half-Italian, with Tuscan origins. Her mother was born and raised in Naples, Italy, and her maternal gr
andmother was born and raised near Florence -- in Vinci, Leonardi’s birthplace,
In 2011, Rita and her husband Tim bought a small apartment in the historic center of a medieval hill town, Castiglion Fiorentino, about an hour south of Florence and a 10-minute drive from Cortona. Tucked away on the Richardsons' tiny street is an abandoned 17th century baroque chapel — San Filippino — which is an oratory dedicated to St. This beautiful hidden jewel is destined to disappear if nothing is done. With your help, we can save San Filippino and restore it to its original glory so that it can once again be a safe and lovely little church where families can gather for intimate weddings and baptisms and all manner of religious services. In keeping with its history and the goals of its original Oratorian priest founders, San Filippino will be much more than a church with religious services. It will also be a community gathering place where local residents and tourists alike can attend provocative lectures, musical performances and artistic exhibitions of all kinds. The renovated apartments will host visiting scholars, business leaders, artists, religious leaders and people of all walks of life who want to relax and recharge and perhaps work on some research project, book or work of art. Above all, we hope that the restored chapel will make a significant contribution to the economic and cultural life of Castiglion Fiorentino, one of the friendliest and loveliest hill towns in all of Tuscany.
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Nel cuore di Castiglion Fiorentino, la Chiesa di San Filippino, prezioso gioiello dell'arte barocca abbandonato da molti anni, rischia ormai di sparire inesorabilmente insieme al suo patrimonio artistico. L'opportunità di salvare San Filippino, grazie al tuo aiuto, può diventare una realtà nella quale il luogo torni ad essere un centro vitale per la comunità e per i suoi visitatori.
