Mount Morello and its trails

Pines, oaks, cypresses and firs now make Mount Morello a true green lung for the Florentine metropolitan area, but this was not always the case. For more than 6 centuries, the mountain was almost entirely deforested for timber that was used to construct buildings and, in the time of Grand Duke Cosimo I, even the beams in the Uffizi Gallery ceiling. It was not until the late 18ᵗʰ century that the earliest attempts at reforestation began, continuing until the 1970s.
Thus, the landscape we see today is the result of extensive restorative works that have reestablished the wild soul of this area. Foxes, wolves and wild boar can be encountered along the trails, as can botanical biodiversity that changes with the altitude.

From Florence, head up Via Bolognese then take the SP130 to Mount Morello, leading first to Piazzale Leonardo da Vinci then to Fonte dei Seppi, both excellent starting points for hiking.

Those arriving from Sesto Fiorentino, rather, can pass through the village of Colonnata to reach the Rifugio Gualdo, another perfect base from which to take the main itineraries in the area.

The Mount Morello area is crisscrossed by a dense network of trails signposted by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) along with thematic routes suitable for hikers, families and bikers. Here are a few not to be missed ...

Part of a 105-mile or 170-kilometer route around Florence, the Renaissance Ring embraces the slopes of Mount Morello to offer spectacular views of olive groves and hills.
From the medieval village of Calenzano Alto, the route climbs towards San Donato and the San Ruffiniano Church in Sommaia, to the Fonte del Ciliegio and the famous CAI 10 trail, also known as the Rompistinchi (the Shin Breaker). Next, climb to the cross atop Poggio all’Aia, the highest peak of the mountain.
The route is about 6.2 miles or 10 kilometers, perfect for those who like to walk surrounded by greenery, with views that repay any exertion.

The looping hiking trail covers some 5.6 miles or 9 kilometers, rising around 2625 feet or 800 meters in positive elevation, starting from the large clearing used as the Fonte dei Seppi parking lot. This leads to the summit of Poggio all’Aia (3064 feet/934 meters), the highest peak of Mount Morello. You then get to the other two peaks of Poggio Cornacchia (2927 feet/892 meters) and Poggio Casaccia (3022 feet/921 meters) with the metal cross visible from Florence. It is likewise possible to reach the route from the Rifugio Gualdo by ascending the CAI 601 trail that then intercepts CAI 611, the route of the loop.

A 8.7-mile or 14-kilometer loop trail, with an elevation gain of about 2625 feet or 800 meters, explores the greener, water-rich side of Mount Morello, including springs, streams and ancient mills. The route connects to the network of CAI trails and can be followed in whole or in part, with various accesses from the Collina and Fonte dei Seppi parking areas. The path follows the course of the Rimaggio Creek, touching places of interest such as the old mill, the Mulino di Gualdo and the springs of Fonte del Ciliegio, Fonte dei Seppi and Fonte di Morello.

The Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) of Sesto Fiorentino, in collaboration with the municipal administration and Pro Loco, has created 2 new hiking trails dedicated to children on Mount Morello that depart from the Fonte dei Seppi. The trails are enriched with educational panels illustrating the mountain’s animals and its natural secrets, providing an educational and immersive experience in nature for young children. The book “Esplora Morello” (“Explore Morello”), dedicated to the two routes and distributed to schools in the area, is also available in PDF format on the CAI Sesto Fiorentino website.

Mount Morello is much more than a mountain on the outskirts of Florence but is a threshold between the city and nature, a place where you can regenerate, walk in silence and let your gaze be lost in the Tuscan hills.