Via Romea Sanese, the ancient pilgrim route in Chianti
A 78 km long itinerary, divided into 4 stages, through 3 Chianti Classico municipalities: San Casciano Val di Pesa, Barberino Tavarnelle and Castellina in Chianti.
TREKKING / OUTDOOR / CULTURE
he Via Romea Sanese is an ancient route that connects Florence to Siena, crossing the hills of Chianti and offering beautiful views of vineyards, villages, and churches.
Since the Middle Ages, it has been the shortest path to connect the two Tuscan cities, used by merchants, travelers, and pilgrims, thanks to its connection with the Via Francigena.
Today, the itinerary is highly appreciated by trekking and hiking enthusiasts in the Chianti area, and it allows visitors to explore some of the most beautiful places in the region, thanks to its connection with the Chianti Classico Hiking Network.
San Casciano Val di Pesa and the home of Machiavelli
San Casciano Val di Pesa is the first stop on the Via Romea Sanese after Florence. It can be reached by crossing the hills of Sant'Andrea in Percussina, where Niccolò Machiavelli wrote his most famous work, "The Prince," during his exile from Florence.
In San Casciano Val di Pesa, visitors should not miss the Giuliano Ghelli Museum and the church of Santa Maria del Prato with its wooden crucifix by Simone Martini.
Just beyond San Casciano Val di Pesa are the delightful villages of Montefiridolfi and Sant'Andrea a Macerata.
Barberino Tavarnelle and the Badia a Passignano area
The next stop on the Via Romea Sanese is Barberino Tavarnelle, which includes the splendid Badia a Passignano, the Benedictine abbey of San Michele Arcangelo, a pilgrimage destination for centuries.
The abbey is located in a beautiful protected natural area that can be visited on foot thanks to numerous marked trails.
Continuing along the path, visitors will reach San Donato in Poggio, a stopping point on the route, with its medieval urban layout and the Romanesque Pieve di San Donato.
Castellina in Chianti, the heart of the classic Chianti
Castellina in Chianti is the last stop on the Via Romea Sanese in the Chianti region. This charming village is located in the heart of Chianti Classico.
Just outside the town is the impressive Etruscan tumulus of Montecalvario, which leads to the historic center, with the church of San Salvatore and the beautiful Rocca, home to the Archaeological Museum of Chianti.
Crossing the Via delle Volte, an ancient defensive walkway, visitors leave Castellina to immerse themselves in the typical landscape of Chianti Classico, with hills covered in vineyards and woods and the village of Fonterutoli.
The Via Romea Sanese is part of the Atlas of the Tuscan Cammini.
The route also includes three accessible paths in the municipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Barberino Tavarnelle, and Castelnuovo Berardenga.
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