Pieta di Santa Maria

The little church of Santa Maria, in the localita of Marcialla near Barberino Val d'Elsa, harbors what some experts say is a Pieta painted by Michelangelo Buonarotti in his youth.

It has been reported by Chianti News that you can read M.B.F. (with the F standing for fecit or made by) in the initials found in a hidden part of the famous fresco. M.B. would obviously stand for Michelangelo Buonarroti. The initials were found by moving the ciborium and lifting a huge stone (the altar and artwork have been tampered with several times). Announcing the find was Elsa Masi of Barberino who has been interested for years in this alleged Michelangelo in Marcialla.