Punta San Bernardino is a rocky cliff that divides the southwestern shore of the lake into two broad, curved banks: to the east lies the long, lush beach of Capodimonte, while to the northwest stretches the coastline that extends up to Monte Bisenzio, an area that once hosted a port, discovered in 1983 at an elevation between 301 and 302.8 meters above sea level. The surrounding plain is dotted with Etruscan tombs and is one of the most significant burial sites among those surrounding Monte Bisenzio. Similar to the ancient settlement of Grancaro, located on the eastern shore of the lake, it is believed that near Punta San Bernardino or along the coastal plain there was a submerged village due to rising water levels. Underwater findings have led various scholars to hypothesize the presence of a settlement dating back to the Late Bronze Age and the early 7th century BC. However, given the wide array of artifacts washed ashore by the lake’s waves, another interpretation has been proposed (Tamburini, 1992). According to this theory, some of the artifacts are linked to eroded submerged tombs and others are remnants of materials that slid down from the higher settlement at Monte Bisenzio. The “Porto Madonna” quarry, located south of Punta San Bernardino, was used for extracting stones intended for paving the streets and squares of Capodimonte.
The peak of the cliff is the closest point to Bisentina Island, located more than a kilometer and a half away. In the 15th century, the Franciscan Friars, who resided on the island at the behest of Pope Eugene IV, built a small port here. From this port, in 1440, the renowned theologian and preacher Bernardino da Siena (who would be canonized just a decade later) embarked to preside over a “Chapter” of the Franciscan friars. This event marked the history of the place, which was named after the revered missionary saint.