13 June \ 03 October 2010

The “Museo del Paesaggio” or Landscape Museum, is based on a single concept: to invite the visitor to reflect on the transformations in the world, as well as on the way in which man understands or may understand the world itself, whilst taking cues from the significance given each time to the term “landscape”. This is possible thanks to the very distinctive nature of the landscape: a concept that whilst indicating both the “thing” and “the image of the thing”, conducts one to examine the relationship between reality and its representation. The landscape becomes the subject of many working routes: through history, art, scientific research, agriculture, etc.
The route through the exhibition naturally takes advantage of single examples of landscapes, chosen from those that are particularly significant of the phenomenon that is to be highlighted each time. Amongst these single cases those drawn from the province of Siena have a predominant role. Thus the provincial territory becomes the opportunity to initiate a discussion that is nevertheless universal.

According to information reported by Merletti, the church of Saints Peter and Paul in Canonica a Cerreto was probably founded in 1093 by a member of the Antolini family. In a lien granted by Urbano III in 1186 the “rectory” in Cerreto was the property of the canons of the cathedral in Siena. In the Lists of Tenths of the late thirteenth century and early fourteenth century it still appears as a rectory; the premises of a religious community headed by a prior. From the late thirteenth century and the early fourteenth century onwards the rectory appears under the jurisdiction of the Cerretani, the lords of the castle with the same name, and the surrounding area. In 1598 it was declared a forane vicariate by the archbishop of Siena. In 1794 the church was reconsecrated following substantial restoration and modernization. On the left hand side stands a Romanesque bell-tower which is square in plan.
During a pastoral visit in 1575, the canonical house appeared to be in good condition. At the end of the eighteenth century the rectory was also renovated, together with the church. The oldest structures in view, which probably date back to the late Middle Ages, are situated in the north easterly prospect.