15 APRIL 3:30 P.M. – 6.30 P.M.
FROM STABBIA TO THE MARSHES, VIA HISTORY AND NATURE
Visit organised by the Municipality of Cerreto
Guidi and the Centre for Research, Documentation and Promotion of the Fucecchio Marsh.
The route starts from the hamlet of Stabbia, located in a panoramic position overlooking the Florentine area of the Fucecchio Marshes; passing by the Fattoria Medicea (currently not open to visitors), it then descends along an easy dirt road to the edge of the wetland area.
After a stop at the Garden of Meditation, dedicated to the memory of those who died in the Fucecchio Marshes Massacre, we visit the ‘Vincio Vecchio’ equipped trail.
From here, we proceed along the banks of the Vincio and skirt the marsh basin until we reach Cavallaia Bridge, where there is the chance to spot herons, ibises and storks.
Difficulty: flat loop route of approximately 8 km. Equipment: hiking boots, binoculars and drin- king water.
Expected duration: 3 hours. Free visit.
Info and booking required at RDP Cen- tre, Padule di Fucecchio:
tel. (+39) 0573-84540
fucecchio@zoneumidetoscane.it
23 APRIL
9 A.M. – 12 NOON
FUCECCHIO MARSH NATURE RE- SERVE, LE MORETTE AREA: NATU- RE WALK AND BIRDWATCHING IN THE PROTECTED AREA
Visit organised by the Municipality of Cerreto
Guidi and Centre for Research, Documentation and Promotion of the Fucecchio Marsh.
Excursion to the nature reserve and in particular to the area called Le Morette, which can be reached via a pleasant, equipped trail from the Castelmartini visitor centre.
An enjoyable walk on a flat road, suitable for everyone, allows you to admire enchanting landscapes, passing for a long stretch through the Bosco di Chiusi with its centuries-old oaks, until you reach the ancient port of Le Morette. The itinerary continues along the banks of the Terzo, now in the heart of the marsh, all the way to the Casotto del Biagiotti hide, which for many years has been used as the protected area’s wildlife observatory.
Difficulty: none, flat route of approximately 6 km including outward and return.
Equipment: hiking boots, binoculars and drin- king water.
Estimated duration: 3 hours. Free visit.
Info and booking required at Centro RDP Padule di Fucecchio:
tel. (+39) 0573-84540
fucecchio@zoneumidetoscane.it
30 APRIL 9:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. CERRETO, ITS HISTORY AND FOLK TRADITIONS: A WALK FROM VILLA MEDICEA AND THE VILLAGE TO COLLE DI SAN ZIO
The itinerary takes participants through the
village of Cerreto Guidi, following a route that starts with a guided tour of Villa Medicea, now a UNESCO world heritage site which houses a substantial and significant collection of por- traits of the Medici family as well as a series of tapestries, seamlessly integrated with a refined selection of the Bardini collections and the Historical Museum of Hunting and the Territory. After that, there is a chance to visit the unique and truly remarkable ‘Crocheted Nativity Scene’. Created as a simple nativity scene in 2015, it has gradually expanded into a miniature reconstruction of the village of Cerreto and the surrounding area: vegetable gardens, the countryside, artisan workshops, furnishings, ex- quisitely detailed and all produced in crochet. It is an authentic work of art, approximately 26 metres long, dominated by the miniature Villa Medicea, stitched together with seven thousand 4 cm bricks. Every year, the model is enriched with new characters, houses and wor- kshops. Since 2019, a reproduction of the Vinci Castle offers a counterpoint to the Villa.
The walk then proceeds along the ‘Cerreto in Giro’ urban route, taking in the key elements of the Medici village, from the house where Santi Saccenti was born to the Church of the Compagnia, from the Palazzo del Podestà to the Palazzina dei Cacciatori.
Then we leave the hamlet via what was once the Porta Fiorentina gate, in the direction of the hill of Colle di San Zio, where the homonymous district, one of four that contest the annual Palio del Cerro, traditionally organises a picnic at this time of year. The Colle is one of the most enchanting locations in Cerreto, affording bre- athtaking, uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside.
Walk and guided tours free of chargepicnic available to purchase (cost depending on choice).
Maximum 30 participants. Booking required. Meeting point at the Tourist Office. Estimated dura- tion of visit: 5 hours including lunch. For info and registration: Cerreto Guidi Pro Loco Tourist Association:
Tel. (+39) 0571-55671; Cell: (+39) 340.7151682; info@prolococerretoguidi.it
29 APRIL 3:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. DISCOVERING THE ANCIENT ROSE GARDEN
In Poggio Tempesti, at ‘La Villetta’ farmstead
located on the Cerreto Guidi ridge overlo- oking the Fucecchio Marshes, you can visit a marvellous rose garden of ancient roses, which began life as a collection of often forgotten rosebushes.
Why roses? The rose boasts the most important history of any flower, by a long chalk. It seems to have the innate ability to find itself at the heart of civilisations throughout the ages; from the most ancient civilisations of Asia, through
the history of the Greeks and Romans, it has accompanied all Western civilisations to the present day. ‘La Villetta’ is home to almost a thousand rose bushes, planted according to their predominance in a given historical period. Thus, there is the Roman rose terrace, the terrace of Islamic roses, the Medici rose terrace, and so on.
The story of these old roses is recounted by tho- se who, with love and dedication, have created this place of outstanding beauty. Although the most traditional and perhaps the most dearly loved of all flowers, the roses commonly found in our gardens are mostly modern cultivars, in- troduced in the second half of the 19th century. Wild roses and those created in the past, from as early as Babylonian times, known as ‘ancient roses’, offer a huge variety of flowers, from the simplest five-petalled varieties to specimens with over two hundred densely packed petals. The scent is exceptional and the growth habit is soft and natural.
The petals of the ancient roses at ‘La Villetta’ are collected for infusions or cooking, and are used to produce fragrances and jams. Visitors are invited to enjoy product tastings at the end of the garden tour.
Meeting point: Pro Loco tourist association (Stalloni Medicei – Via Santi Saccenti, corner Piazza Umberto I°).
Free excursion. Booking required. Estimated visit duration: 4 hours.
Max. number of participants: 30.
Procedure: meet at the Tourist Office for the return trip by minibus.
For info and bookings:
Cerreto Guidi Pro Loco Tourist Associa- tion: Tel. (+39) 0571-55671; Cell: (+39) 340-
7151682; info@prolococerretoguidi.it
22 APRIL 3:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
CAMMIN DEGUSTO
IN THE CERRETO HILLS
Walk from Villa Medicea in Cerreto Guidi to the ancient Corte di Musignano. Departure from the tourist information office (Stalloni Medicei, Piazza Umberto I). We leave the old town behind us, heading in the direction of the Shri- ne of Santa Liberata and then towards Via Torri- bina, following the “Anello Mediceo 3” (Bosco di Cameretta) hiking loop trail. Then, proceeding along the scenic Via Colonica, through woods and vineyards, we come to Corte di Musignano where the Agritourism will lay on an aperitif with a selection of appetizers, complete with
tastings of the wines of the Casalvento estate. The return journey can be made on foot or by minibus.
Expected duration: 4 hours. Free excursion.
Aperitif with appetizers and wine tasting 15 Euros.
Maximum 30 participants. Booking required.
Difficulty: Low (suitable for all). Equipment: water, hiking shoes, camera.
For info and bookings:
Cerreto Guidi Pro Loco Tourist Associa- tion: Tel. (+39) 0571-55671; Cell: (+39) 340-7151682; info@prolococerretoguidi.it