Located in the heart of Tuscany, Reggello is just 36 km from Florence. It’s a large area that embraces different landscapes, from a valley to the mountain heights of the Pratomagno mountain chain. The characteristic yellow ochre of the Balze canyon turns into the grey-green of the olive trees and then into the more intense shade of the straight white firs. From the rolling hills to the Vallombrosa woods, all these colors come together to design a beautiful journey. Between nature and art, here are 3 suggestions for your itinerary in Reggello.
Coming from the A1 motorway, you're first greeted by the Romanesque Church of San Pietro a Cascia, which peeks through the houses and trees and is framed by the Tuscan cypresses dotting the Setteponti landscape. The current layout of this elegant church dates back to the late 12th century and early 13th century. For a long time, it has housed the Triptych of San Giovenale, the first extraordinary work by Masaccio now on display at the nearby Museum of Sacred Art. Masaccio was only 21 when he painted this masterpiece, thus revolutionizing late-Gothic traditions for a new artistic language following the innovations of Brunelleschi and Donatello. The triptych is defined as the "pictorial work that opened the Renaissance" (Caterina Caneva, Rinascimento in Valdarno, Edizioni Polistampa).
Walking along the roads of Reggello also means traveling among hills dotted with olive trees. The soil is almost unique in Tuscany, the temperate climate and the altitude make the oil produced here contain particular organoleptic characteristics and low acidity. The new oil and its “pizzichino” is delicious with Cecino Rosa di Reggello (chickpeas) and with Zolfini beans. There are many oil mills that open their doors to those who want to discover the "green gold" production cycle and numerous young producers who continue the tradition. Continuing towards the upper part of the territory, where the olive trees cling onto the typical terraces, we arrive near Vallombrosa.
In summer, the large meadow of Vallombrosa just a few meters from the Abbey, is filled with those looking for the respite from the heat that only a Biogenetic Nature Reserve can offer. In autumn, on the other hand, excursions to photograph the foliage are not to be missed. There are numerous hiking trails in the forest, many of which are also suitable for horseback riding or mountain biking. One of these trails leads to Italy’s tallest tree: a 62.45-meter tall Douglas fir called "The Italian Tree King”. If you love the history of plants and scientific research, don't miss a guided tour of the Arboreti Sperimentali during the summer months, where you can find a collection of plants that spans over 150 years. The Vallombrosa hiking trail network is also connected with the nearby Sant’Antonio Forest, which together with the Protected Nature Area of Balze forms a triptych that takes us back to Masaccio. From the humanity of its characters to the nature that awaits us outside, from the gold background of the painting to the green of the landscapes, a trip to Reggello is filled with history and color.
