Territory
Casentino is a valley rich in nature and history, located between the forests of the Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park and crossed by the Arno River.
Arno cycle/pedestrian path
It follows the Arno River, which rises in the Casentino valley, dominated by Mount Falterona, one of the highest peaks in the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines and part of the Casentino Forests National Park. The Etruscans considered Mount Falterona a sacred place, calling it Fal Truna ("Throne of the Gods"). The 270 km cycle route takes in Tuscan landscapes, hills, countryside, and cities of art.
The Arno between parish churches and castles
In Casentino, the right bank of the Arno River was crossed by the historic Via delle Pievi, a route rich in Romanesque churches and spiritual sites. Among the most important sites are: the Parish Church of San Pietro a Romena, Porciano Castle, Romena Castle, Poppi Castle. The famous Battle of Campaldino between Guelphs and Ghibellines took place here in 1289, in which Dante Alighieri also participated.
The Arno and Dante
In the Divine Comedy, Dante recounts the death of Bonconte da Montefeltro near the confluence of the Archiano and Arno rivers, after the Battle of Campaldino. Other Dante-related sites in the area include: Camaldoli, a monastery linked to Saint Romuald, La Verna, where Saint Francis of Assisi received the stigmata.
The monk Romualdo from Ravenna, founder of the Camaldolese Order, is remembered by Dante in Canto XXII of Paradise: “Here is Maccario, here is Romoaldo/ here are my brothers who within the cloisters stopped their feet and held their hearts firm” (Pd. vv. 46-51)
The Lama forest road
Another picturesque route is the Lama forest trail, starting from Badia Prataglia. This trail follows the route of an old forest railway used in the early 20th century to transport timber in the Casentino forests. Today, it's a dirt road of about 20 km, immersed in woods and rich in springs and panoramic views.
Sacred forests by bike
The Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona, and Campigna National Park offers hundreds of kilometers of trails and forest paths ideal for mountain biking. These forests, among the oldest in Europe, offer an immersive nature experience amidst beech and fir forests and spectacular views between Tuscany and Romagna.