San Marcello Piteglio
Small villages and trails in the heart of the Pistoia Mountains
The area of San Marcello Piteglio constitutes one of the most picturesque parts of the Pistoia Mountains, best appreciated in the summer months for its cool and dry climate. The chestnut forests alternate with extensive beech woods covering the slopes of the mountains, whose valleys are crossed by clear and rushing streams, perfect for water sports.
The gentle gradients of these hills are perfect for long mountain walks, horse-riding and mountain-biking; following the well-structured trail map traced by the Italian Alpine Club, anyone can conquer its ridges and peaks.
From 2017 San Marcello became the capital of the municipality of San Marcello Piteglio (formed after the fusion of the San Marcello Pistoiese and Piteglio municipalities), but has been recognised as the true capital of the Pistoia mountains for centuries.
What to see: the trails and villages of San Marcello Piteglio
The area is home to some of the most interesting routes of the Pistoia Mountains Ecomuseum.
One of the most significant destinations is Popiglio, the starting point of a lovely route that leads to some neighbouring towers, the remains of an ancient medieval fortress. From here it’s well worth heading to the small and charming village of Migliorini.
Along these trails you’ll be delighted by the sweeping views over the surrounding valleys, the first being Lizzano and Vizzaneta and, eventually, Mammiano Alto just past the river Lima’s dam.
One of the area’s main attractions is the Ferriere suspension bridge, a pedestrian walkway connecting Mammiano Basso and Popiglio. Until 2006 this bridge was the longest in the world thanks to its frameworks supported by four steel cables and length of 227 metres. The daring crosswalk leads to a historic ironworks - the Papini Foundry in Maresca - which is today open as a museum.
Other beautiful parts of this vast municipality include Pontepetri, Campo Tizzoro, Maresca and Gavinana, which is worth a visit for its Francesco Ferrucci Museum and Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which is home to the organ of wonders made by Pietro Agati.
3 kilometres from Gavinana is Pian de’ Termini, a panoramic viewpoint over the Limestre river valley home to the Pistoia Mountains astronomical observatory and the Star Park, an educational journey focusing on our solar system.
Local Products
An essential part of the local cuisine in the Pistoia Mountains, and particularly in towns such as San Marcello and Piteglio, is Chestnut Flour. The product is ideal for preparing necci (a kind of galette), the famous castagnaccio (chestnut cake), sweet polenta and pancakes.
Mushrooms, another of the area’s typical products, are particularly abundant in autumn and are prepared in various ways, forming the basis of many tasty and now-famous dishes.
In any trattoria or farm you can try the dairy products and, most importantly, the pecorino a latte crudo, for which the Pecorino a Latte Crudo della Montagna Pistoiese has been established as a brand.
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