September is the perfect time for walking. Temperatures are milder, rendering your rambling more enjoyable, as the first hues of autumn begin to tint the landscape in warm, enveloping tones. We offer a selection of short itineraries, from one-day to few-hour routes in the area surrounding Florence, suitable for a Sunday with friends or a day to unplug.
Contents
1.
The Burraie Trail
2.
The route of Chapels in Vallombrosa
3.
The Stilicone Trail
4.
Mount Morello
The Burraie Trail
The Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso in Santa Brigida - Credit: Comune di Firenze
A path entirely through the woods that starts in Santa Brigida, in the municipality of Pontassieve, then crosses paths with several burraie, being small stone buildings, near a stream or otherwise in the cool of the dense forest, once used to produce butter.
The Burraie Loop also passes by the Marian shrine of Madonna del Sasso and partly overlaps with the Renaissance Loop. It can be done in a day.
The route of Chapels in Vallombrosa
The monumental pool in front of the Abbey of Vallombrosa - Credit: Mattia Marasco
In a forest steeped in spirituality, that surrounding the Abbey of Vallombrosa, is a trail that takes walkers to see 9 chapels and two tabernacles, witnesses to the great spirituality of the place and with strongly evocative names, as in the case of the Chapel of the Faggio Santo, whose tree (according to legend) welcomed Saint John Gualbert, founder of Vallombrosa, under its branches. The Chapel Loop includes circa 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers mostly uphill, but within everyone’s reach. The route can be combined with a visit to the thousand-year-old Abbey, while on still warm days, the large lawn in front offers up a spot for relaxation.
The Stilicone Trail
Wooden signage along the Stilicho Trail
Connecting the town of Fiesole with the locality of Olmo is the trail named after the Roman general Stilicho, who fought against the Ostrogoths besieging Florence. The approximately 6.2 mile or 10-kilometer trail winds through a valley of great scenic beauty and interesting architectural interventions. Even the point of arrival, in the locality of Olmo, allows you to enjoy a large lawn exposed to the sun, where you can chill. Although not a loop, it is possible to return to the starting point on public transport.
Mount Morello
The view from Mount Morello - Credit: Ambito Firenze e Area Fiorentina
Florence’s “mountain” is Mount Morello, a massif whose three peaks reach almost 620 feet (1,000 meters) and, to be precise, 580 feet (934 meters) at Poggio all’Aia. Rich in scenic diversity, water and walkable trails, you can choose from Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) trails or those known as “The Water Walks” created by Publiacqua (the integrated water service managing a key area of Tuscany, encompassing the provinces of Florence, Prato, Pistoia, and Arezzo). There are countless hikes to choose from, such as the trail to the three peaks of Monte Morello or the Fonti Itinerary, which we recommend taking starting from either the Fonte dei Seppi or the Rifugio Gualdo.
