FLORENCE

Florence is one of the most important art cities in the world, with it’s ancient lanes which enclose enormous unmistakable treasures and characteristic foreshortening. Squares and churches testify the works of artists like Leonardo, Michelangelo, Giotto, Cimabue and many others. The Uffizi Gallery with their invaluable works of art, the Cathedral with it’s famous Dome of Brunelleschi and Giotto’s Bell Tower. The Baptistery with it’s monumental bronze doors, the great Palazzo Pitti which testifies the power of the Medici family, framed by the wonderful Boboli - Gardens. The terrace of Piazzale Michelangelo is the best place to have an incomparable view of Florence any time, day and night.

CERTOSA MONASTERY OF GALLUZZO

This monumental complex began in 1341, and was later expanded and modified in its architecture and its decoration. Therefore all the stiles from gothic to neoclassic are visible. The church with its 5th century facade and preceded by a big square court is consecrated to S. Lorenzo and hosts (houses) a wooden chancel of considerable beauty.

THE VILLAS OF THE MEDICI

Many stupendous Villas in the surroundings of Florence testify the power reached by the Medici family. They are large buildings, of sober and powerful architecture. The Medici Villa of "Poggio a Caiano" has many frescos of the 5th century. Villa Demidoff has a huge and magnific park with the famous "Appennino" colossal statue (by Giambologna). Villa "La Petraia" has once been a middle age castle, and the Villa of "Careggi" and of "Castello", which is head office of the "Crusca Accademy" deserve a visit also.

VINCI

The town is known especially because Leonardo, the great genius, was born there. That is the main attraction of the town. An interesting Museum has been opened recently, which is also a Study Center of Leonardo’s works, and houses many machine and device projects of his invention.

But the town has an older story than its famous personage, its castle still preserves i’ts 2nd century features and holds precious coat of arms and decorations.

THE CHIANTI AREA

The Chianti area is a soft hilly and rustic landscape, rich of roads and small streets which go steep down and snaky up to reach old villas and castles, parish churches and farm houses "fattorie". The most important towns are: Castellina, Radda and Greve. The agriculture produces the world wide known and appreciated wine, the "Chianti Classico Gallo Nero", and a likewise virtuous olive oil.

SAN GIMIGNANO

San Gimignano is a town with a unique layout of its architecture: small, concentrated and noble, with a geometry of towers which rise up to watch over the houses. The town was already known in Etruscan and Roman times. During the middle age San Gimignano had a considerable development thanking the "Via Francigena", the most important road of that time which linked together Italy and Europe.

SIENA

Siena lays on a very soft hilly landscape. It is a middle age type town, which can be admired in all its sober beauty, and which gets untangled with its narrow streets, lanes and narrow market towns and great squares. It is one of the highest attestations of the Middle Age. The "Piazza del Campo" is one of the distinctive squares of Italy with it’s shell shape and in it’s lower part rises the "Palazzo Pubblico" and the famous "Torre del Mangia". The square hosts the well known "Palio", twice a year, in July and August which is not a simple event, but it is the opportunity to renew every year the ancients antagonism between the quarters of the town ("contrade").

VOLTERRA

The first news of the town go back to the Iron Age (IX-VII century b. C). Among the most biggest and suggestive places of Volterra there is the "Piazza dei Priori", framed by an austere mosaic of buildings; "Palazzo del Monte Pio", "Palazzo Pretorio", the "Torre del Podestà" where an animal shape shows up in the highest part of the tower, and which is named by the townmen "il porcellino", the "Palazzo Incontri", "Palazzo Vescovile" and the "Palazzo del Popolo".

RING OF THE RENAISSANCE

TREKKING

Impruneta – La Certosa

An easy downhill walk with very worthwhile views over Florence itself and of the grand architectural complex of the Certosa (Carthusian monastery).

Length: Km 7,3

Time required: 2hrs 10 mins

Altitude variance: m 78

Difficulties none

Access: Bus service to Impruneta, Bottai and La Certosa

MTB facility: medium to easy

La Certosa – Firenze

A lovely walk along roads typical of the hills around Florence. Reaching Piazzale Michelangelo we find ourselves on a prodigious balcony overhanging the City of the Flower.

Length of rout: Km 6,3

Time required: 1 hr 50 mins

Altitude variance: m 114

Difficulties: none

Access: Bus service to Galluzzo and Florence

MTB facility: easy

La Certosa – Pian dei Cerri – Lastra a Signa – Signa

A long stage, but not demanding. From the bottom of the valley at Bottai we climb again into a hilly landscape dotted with villas and farmhouses. The route plunges into the pinewoods characteristic of the Florentine hill country bordering on Chianti and winds through the woods of Roveta, interspersed with the olive groves in the parts towards Signa and the Arno.

N.B. At Pian dei Cerri one can break off the excursion and catch a bus back to town.

Length: Km 22.9

Time required: 6 hrs 50 mins

Altitude variance: 126m

Difficulties: only the length

Access: Bus to Galluzzo, along SP Volterrana and to Pian dei Cerri

MTB facility: medium to easy, with some short stretches of steep, rough mule track.