Appianus of Genoa

Appianus of Genoa (Sant'Appiano) is regarded as the first evangelizer of the Valdelsa in Tuscany, in the 4th or 5th century. Popular tradition makes him a native of Genoa. After his preaching he fled, persecuted, from his native city and reached the mouth of the river Cecina, then went inland up to a hill, where he settled, founded a first Christian community, baptized many believers and was buried. From him the hill took the name Sant'Appiano. A local martyrology, kept in the library of the convent of San Lucchese in Poggibonsi, gives 6 November, the day of his death, as the day of commemoration. The old church of the Val d'Elsa bears his name.

The Italian source nevertheless calls him a "decanonized" saint, that is, no longer counted among the saints, and says that his historical authenticity is doubtful. Local veneration, with no synodal canonization.