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Hills and mountains north of Florence
The Calvana mountains, Mount Morello, Fiesole
Not far from Florence, appealing itineraries can be found in every direction and through various landscapes.
Fiesole, founded by the Etruscans, with its splendid Roman theatre and the interesting archaeologic site, is the epicentre of routes rich in art and history. The stone quarry of Maiano, the Ceceri Mount (where Leonardo da Vinci carried out experiments on instrumental flight), several villas, castles, small country churches and vast forests. The landscape reminds one of Montaigne's saying the countryside looks like a garden, and the surroundings display the rationality of a carefully plotted architectural plan. The Demidoff Villa is most interesting with its splendid park and fantastic sculptures. Reforested with black pine and cypress at the beginning of the 20th Century Mount Morello (3000 ft.), called the balcony of Florence, has become a frequent destination of trekkers from the surrounding area.
Moving away from Florence, the hills become mountains, and the landscape transforms into forests with the noises of the city vanishing. Among the routes we propose, one of the most picturesque will take you along the Calvana, the long pre-Apennine range of the Prato mountains that comes down towards the Prato plains and separates Val Bisenzio from Mugello, revisiting Medieval roads and remains of ancient villages now abandoned. Along the slopes of these anomalous limestone mountains looking white because of the Alberese rock, we come across large open spaces, little known caves, ancient tracks used by the shepherds (Vie Maremmane).
Other places to visit: The historical centre of Prato contains numerous elements of artistic and historical interest, such as the gothic Dome made of white and green marble, the Emperor's Castle with its rare Swabian architecture, as well as numerous 14th Century palaces. Of great interest is the Luigi Pecci Museum of Contemporary Art for both its permanent collection and the various exhibitions. Worth a trip are the Medici villas in Poggio a Caiano, planned by Giuliano da Sangallo for Lorenzo de' Medici and the Villa of Artimino, with its small Etruscan Archaeological Museum.
Food and wine: Cantuccini of Prato (biscuits), Mortadella of Prato (Slow Food Presidia), Extravirgin Olive Oil from Carmignano, figs and chocolate from Carmignano.
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