Fiesole is a hill country, part of a wonderful and natural landscape. Starting from April, the town proposes hiking itineraries for everybody, up and down the hill of Fiesole.
Walking along Fiesole’s paths is a unique hiking experience, not just for the natural beauty of the landscape but also because of the various cultural, historical and art appointments.
The chosen paths fit all ages and there is no need of a particular physical preparation or equipment. It is recommendable to wear tennis or hiking shoes and bring a bottle of water.
All the walks are on Sunday morning and are three-hour long: from 9am to 12pm. All the groups have a tour leader and all the paths are shown by hiking experts, who will show the way while describing the most important sites along the way.
The detailed paths:
1st April- 16th September ON THE ETRUSCAN’S TRAILS.
It is a path aimed to look for the traces of the ancient Etruscan civilization, out of the Archeological site. Walking down the city center of Fiesole and inside the ancient city walls, the visitors will find walls, tombs and signs that remind us of the power and the glory of the Etruscan Fiesole.
15th April- 23rd September 2012 FIESOLE TOWARD THE ARNO
This path is built on the previous extended territory of Fiesole before its annexation to Florence, after the birth of the Italian country. Along the river Arno, the visitors will see the old area of the renaioli, today a beautiful garden, they will pass through the Gualchiere at the Girone, famous for the wool fulling, and they will go up to the village of Settignano, where they can see Villa Gamberaia and the ancient Borgo degli Scalpellini.
Climbing through the valley of hundred-year-old olive groves, they will see the Arno and its valley and the breathtaking landscape of Florence.
22nd April- 30th September 2012 VILLA PEYRON AL BOSCO DI FONTELUCENTE
Through the fascinating and historical lanes of Fiesole and old ways typical of Tuscany, you get to Villa Peyron, where you can see one of the most beautiful Italian gardens nearby and, only for those who take part to the excursion, there will be the visit to the Villa, recently renewed by the eclectic Paolo Peyron.
29th April-7th October 2012 THE ANCIENT CHARM OF COUNTRY PATHS
It is a journey that takes us back in the time and let us live again past times in an undamaged corner of Fiesole. You will cross intact country stretches in their rural composition like they were in the mezzadria (sharecropping), the unique contract that has contributed a lot to create and shape the Tuscan landscape.
6th May- 20th May 2012 DISCOVERING THE EXOTIC WORLD OF ORCHIDS
You will be thrilled to find out that many species of self-sown orchids bloom in Fiesole. They are small-sized and of gorgeous colors. Our path goes through the blooming areas of our territory, in the calcareous part above the built-up of Caldine. You will observe different types, all protected species, among which the Orchis Purpurea with its gaudy colours from a strong pink to purple or the Serapias Lingua, with its particular shape and the Orchis Moro.
13th May- 21st October 2012 THE RECOVERED CONVENT OF MADDALENA
After being closed to the public for many years for a massive renewal, the Convent of St. Mary Magdalen, known also as the “Conventino” (the little Convent) because it was connected to the bigger and more famous Convent of St. Mark in Florence, is now open again.
In 1464 Andrea di Lorenzo Cresci bought a little hospital for the wayfarers and started all the transformations on the base of Michelozzo’s project. In 1480 Cresci was forced to give way the convent, uncompleted, to the Dominicans who transformed it in a rest and comfort home for the pilgrims on their way to Romagna. Here dwelled also Fra Bartolomeo della Porta who accomplished some pieces of art here.
After admiring the church and its loggia, you can go on along a narrow lane which follows the flow of the river, just to discover old mills from the Middle Ages until the final church of Montereggi which hosts a huge canvas of the 16th century of Alessandro del Barbiere.
27th May- 14th October 2012 THE MONTECECERI PARK AND ITS QUARRIES
It is a historical-naturalistic park, known from past times for its Pietra Serena quarries, used for the most important architectural structures in Fiesole and by important Florentine artists such as Brunelleschi, Vasari, Michelangelo and Cellini. The stonecutters from Fiesole are very famous and they have handed down, until nowadays, an important tradition of “studio-school” for the education and the memory of a precious and unique art.
Montececeri is also known as a “Da Vinci’s place”. There are some documents, in fact, which demonstrates that Leonardo da Vinci owned an olive grove here and there he tried out, in 1506, his first human-flight experiments with his well-known flight machine.
On the way back, an appointment not to miss is the visit to a particular place, the Fontesotterra, artificial cave of Etruscan origins.
9th September-28th October 2012 THE OLD FIESOLE ROUTE: BETWEEN HISTORY AND ART CHARM
Walking on old and lonely lanes, rich in charms and history, we will get to St. Dominic where its Church and Convent are a testimony, with valuable and hidden pieces of art, of the presence and the work of Beato Angelico. From the little village of St. Domenico, which offers important treasures such as the Badia Fiesolana, ancient Cathedral of Fiesole which through its cloister you can enter the famous European University Institut and the Music School of Fiesole, you will climb up to Fiesole walking to the Old Fiesole route, the past route which connected Florence to Fiesole, rich in famous villas like Villa Riposo dei Vescovi, villa Le Balze, Villa Medici, ancient Oratori and beautiful sight of Florence. This journey will be through the past viability of Fiesole and, therefore, it will leads us to news, anecdotes and events of past Fiesole, of its characters and villas.
The journey are free, but must be booked the Friday within 12pm before every single walk at: +39 055 5961311 +39 055 5961323