Berta, the Petrified Head

Embedded in the wall of Santa Maria Maggiore Church, overlooking Via Dei Cerretani, there is a petrified head that is thought to belong to Berta, a Florentine woman who lived in the city in 1300s. Two legends try to explain the reason why the head is there. According to the first legend, Cecco D’Ascoli, an astrologer who was sent to the stake in 1326, cursed Berta because the woman refused to give him water in order for him to save himself from the flames. According to the second legend, Berta was a greengrocer who gave the church a bell; the bell had to alert workers about the opening and closure of the city gates. The petrified head was put there as a sign of recognition of the Florentines to Berta.

This post is also available in: Italian French Spanish German Portuguese (Portugal) Russian