San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno: Overall view

It is one of the most outstanding Romanesque churches in Tuscany (founded 805, rebuilt 11th-12th century). The church is also locally known as Duomo vecchio (old cathedral). It was once part of one of the suburban monasteries (in this case of Vallumbrosan monks), all of which possessed large areas of open land, which remained mostly clear of buildings until the 20th century. The fa\u00E7ade of S Paolo a Ripa d'Arno resembles that of the cathedral, with Gothic ornament and black and white banded marble; it was reconsecrated by Pope Eugene II in 1148. In 1853 the building underwent some significant reconstruction, directed by Pietro Bellini, which aimed to restore its Romanesque origins.