Nestled in the pine forests of Poggiopiano, above the village of Rivalto, the Sanctuary of "Madonna del Carmine" is a Catholic place of worship dating back, in its actual aspect, to the XVIII century and built during the previous century, at the time of the preaching of some Carmelites monks coming from the monastery of St. Torpè of Pisa.The origins of Marian devotion in this place are very remote and date from before the XVII century.
The sanctuary, wrapped between two majestic rows of cypress trees, presents itself in all its charming simplicity with an elegant arcade porch topped by brick arches and a interior nave ending in the apse that hosts a marble altar, generously donated by the faithful Domenico Falugi, who died in 1858, to which has been dedicated the commemorative plaque at the center of the porch.From the sanctuary of Rivalto comes a painting of the Madonna del Carmine made in the second half of the XVII century by the florentine artist Carlo Dolci (1616-1686, painter of the sacred florentine sacred baroque). The painting, oil on canvas, depicts the Virgin in pink robe and blue veil while clutching to herself her infant, they wear a silver crown and hold the Carmelo's scapular.
Since several years the sanctuary is closed to the ordinary celebrations, it is open to the public during special religious celebrations and weddings in "bucolic" style .
The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine is reachable by walk in about 10 minutes starting from the center ot the village. It is not only a place of worship, but also a place of naturalistic excursions: behind the Sanctuary you can admire a splendid panorama of the Valdera and the Lower Valdarno; in the surrounding woods, filled with pines, oaks and chestnut trees, are tracked paths and trails and are visible hunting lodges (not quite exceptional the presence of the "King of the bush", that is the wild boar); from there branch out additional routes to the areas of I Poggi of Rivalto.
Below there is a section on the history of the Sanctuary and a section on the walks in Poggiopiano.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine is reachable by walk in about 10 minutes starting from the center ot the village. It is not only a place of worship, but also a place of naturalistic excursions: behind the Sanctuary you can admire a splendid panorama of the Valdera and the Lower Valdarno; in the surrounding woods, filled with pines, oaks and chestnut trees, are tracked paths and trails and are visible hunting lodges (not quite exceptional the presence of the "King of the bush", that is the wild boar); from there branch out additional routes to the areas of I Poggi of Rivalto.
Below there is a section on the history of the Sanctuary and a section on the walks in Poggiopiano.
Historical References
As it reported in the writings of Don Achille Costagli "Memorie del Santuario di Poggiopiano - dedicato alla Santissima Vergine del Carmine presso il Castello di Rivalto" (Memories of the Sanctuary of Poggiopiano - dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel at the Rivalto's Castle), the first devotions made by the community of Rivalto's Castle at the Virgin of Poggiopiano began from before XVII century, when in this area there was a small tabernacle with painted the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Carmelo.
In the XVII century, it was built here a chapel in which was displayed the image of the Virgin to which the community of Rivalto continued to pray. As evidence of this deep devotion, in XVII and XVIII century many legacies were donated by the faithful of Rivalto, in exchange of perpetual celebrations or improvements to the oratory.
Then it came the time of government measures that undermined the church property, first of all the suppression of small churches and local companies in favor of the parish churches, issued in 1785 by the then Duke of Tuscany Leopoldo I of Lorena. The measure led to the request by the Bishop of Volterra Bonamici to the then parish priest Francesco Graziani to transfer, on 15 August 1788, the sacred image of Virgin of Carmelo from the oratory of the parish church of Rivalto.
The desecration of the shrine of Poggiopiano was met with resentment from the local population and it generated a gradual abandonment of this place of pilgrimage and prayer that soon ended up in ruins. In 1827, with not a few insistences, the then parish priest Giuseppe Passeri managed to obtain permission from the Diocese of Volterra for the renovation of the oratory that, in 1832, opened its doors to the faithful and in 1850 welcomed the return of the icon of the Virgin. The remains of Giuseppe Passeri are buried in the center of the church. Since then the faithful continued to attend the shrine, especially during the main celebrations dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Feast of Our Lady of Carmine, Feast of the Assumption, Feast of the Immaculate Conception), in which the statue of Our Lady of Carmine was carried in solemn procession to the Church of Saints Fabian and Sebastian, the parish church of the village, to be exposed to the prayers of the faithful. During the procession, the villagers were wearing characteristics white robes and capes (called sarrocchini).
Naturalistic Trail see the path
To explore the natural area of Poggiopiano and the Sanctuary of Madonna del Carimne, you can start from dei Poggi street, in the center of the village, where it is indicated the direction to the sanctuary. Going down dei Poggi street to the junction with Margherita street, crossing indicated by a tabernacle of the Madonna (locally known as "la maginetta" that means the small image), turn right. After just a few meters, on your left, a dirt path that allows, from the beginning, to see the wonderful "pictures" of the ancient village of Rivalto, with its stone houses, tiled roofs and chimneys, dominated by the characteristic bell tower. In the past, the below hills were covered with vineyards. 
Going haead, the trail plunges into a wooded area, through the foliage, you can see as far as the eye, the cultivated rolling hills of the Valdera, protected by the Apennine mountains. The area below is full of chestnut trees that become the real stars at the Chestnut Festival. From here you can go into the forest to appreciate the richness, discover unexpected views that reach the Monte Serra and the Apuan Alps, pick wild blackberries for a delicious homemade jam.
Arriving in the clearing where stands the Oratory, you can still be see, on the left, the remains of the vineyards of yesteryear. The walk into the wood and the simplicity of the old church will leave you breathless, the low wall under the cool of the porch offer a comfortable relax.
Behind the church you can see the Soccer Field, used in the past in tournaments with teams from neighboring countries. The construction and maintenance of the same was supported by the Sports Group of Rivalto to which joined spontaneously football fans of Rivalto by dividing costs, as recorded in a notebook of bookkeeping, preserved since 1969, that reports revenue and expenditures of that time.
Looking at the landscape, you can enjoy an extensive wooded spot on which stand the perched villages of Lari and Collemontanino and looking over, the area between the Lower Valdarno and the Valdera.
Taking up the walking, we proceed on the path to the right of the porch that goes into a dense vegetation of pines, oaks, berries, strawberry trees, junipers, in a thick undergrowth of ferns, cyclamens, brooms, mushrooms and wild vegetation.
On the left of the path, you can cross and overstep the pine forest and reach a small plateau (called "Il Pianone") to admire Volterra. The surrounding area was once grown to vineyards and peach trees but, in spite of the agricultural activity, the entire wooded area of Poggiopiano can be considered wild. In particular, along this stretch, one can see a ruined house that, in summer, Gregorio, shepherd of Rivalto, used as a sheepfold for the housing of sheep grazing. In the surrounding forest, however, many young people of Rivalto have played during the afternoon snacks and summer camps, finding in pine nuts staunch allies of the game (among the games mentioned, that of the pine nuts in a row, used as skittles, to hit with balls).
Returning to the main path, we like to remind a curved pine, now downcast, which has long been a characteristic portal and a great place for amateur photographs
The whole area of Poggiopiano is rich in wildlife: hares, porcupines, badgers, foxes, wild boar, pheasants, diurnal and nocturnal raptors and numerous birds -ghiandaie, crows, sparrows, woodcocks, pigeons, doves, thrushes-, it is not a coincidence that, in fact, the hunters appreciate the greedy opportunities.
Just continue on the main trail, on the right, you will come to a fixed place of hunting.
The walk ends by descending on the dei Poggi street at Le Croci farm.