Stay in Valdarno: from the Etruscans to Masaccio

Valley crossed by the Arno River. Villages, castles and towns dot its territory. Current high fashion hub. In the 13th century the rivalry between Florence and Arezzo bordered the borders with the "new lands". Fortified villages that today bear witness to its history.

How the journey is structured...

Day 1

In the morning meeting in Figline Valdarno train station and start of the tour. Visit of the Parish Church of San Pietro a Cascia and the Masaccio Museum of Sacred Art that houses the Triptych of San Giovenale, the first work painted by Masaccio. We continue to the new land of Castelfranco di Sopra and visit the Badia in Soffena, rich in fifteenth-century frescoes. Lunch break with traditional cooking tasting. Visit of the historic center San Giovanni Valdarno, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, and the Museum of the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses the famous Announciantion by painter Beato Angelico. At the end of the visits, accommodation in the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2

Crossing a unique landscape such as that of the gullies eroded in the geological eras, locally called Le Balze, represented by Leonardo da Vinci in his paintings. Then we reach the village Loro Ciuffenna. The Ciuffenna stream sings in every corner of the village crossed by gorges carved by water, which feeds a mill and has blunted the stones used in the sculptures by the twentieth-century genius Venturino Venturi, a native of the village. Visit of the nearby Pieve di San Pietro in Gropina, a masterpiece of Tuscan Romanesque style. Lunch in Loro Ciuffenna. Return to Figline Valdarno train station. End of services.

POSSIBILITY TO MODIFY THE PROGRAM (on request)

Culinary workshop

Participation and lunch in a culinary workshop in a renowned restaurant that produces its own oil and Fagioli Zolfini, serves and presents wines from local wineries. Morning of the 2nd Day. After the visit in Loro Ciuffenna, around 11.00 am, transfer to the "Osteria de l'Acquolina", a well-known restaurant inserted in an olive grove, terrace on the Valdarno. In the afternoon the tour ends with the Piave di Gropina.

Tenuta il Borro

From Loro Ciuffenna, before lunch, transfer to the Estate "Il Borro" ancient property of the Savoia and now of the Ferragamo family. The entire medieval village is a popular hotel, part of the Relais and Chateaux chain. Wine tasting in the cellar with cold cuts and cheese dishes.

Shopping at Sting’s Palagio

After lunch in Loro Ciuffenn, return to Figline Valdarno , stop at the Estate "Il Palagio" owned by singer Sting, where you can buy products of the land obtained from organic cultivation: wine, oil, honey and other seasonal products and - optionally - ask for a tasting.

Villa Casagrande

Ancient Tuscan-style villa, in the center of the town Figline Valdarno. About two hours visit to its great artistic heritage, which ends in the cellar, with wine tasting (4 labels).