If you’re visiting the Casentino region in Tuscany for a few days, perhaps you’d like to explore this suggested day trip through four very interesting towns in the area that have plenty to offer in terms of sightseeing, food tasting and history.
You can enjoy a few day’s stay in a fine selection of tuscany villa rentals in the district.
Why not start the day’s activities in the town of Ortignano Raggiolo, just over seven kilometres southwest of the town of Bibbiena. Once two separate towns situated right beside each other, they decided to unite in 1873 and simply combined their individual names to make up the new town name.
Chestnut trees are plentiful here, there’s even a museum built in their honour in the town! Chestnuts were once and still are a popular staple food of the region. This museum illustrates the stages of chestnut harvesting and emphasises to the visitor, all the wonderful products that they are used in! They can be ground into sweet flour and made into a light bread called Polenta which is often eaten with some delicious locally produced ricotta cheese. Try it for yourself in ‘Ristorante Il Convivio dei corsi’ located in the town centre before moving onto the next stop of this interesting trail.
You can enjoy a few day’s stay in a fine selection of tuscany villa rentals in the district.
Why not start the day’s activities in the town of Ortignano Raggiolo, just over seven kilometres southwest of the town of Bibbiena. Once two separate towns situated right beside each other, they decided to unite in 1873 and simply combined their individual names to make up the new town name.
Chestnut trees are plentiful here, there’s even a museum built in their honour in the town! Chestnuts were once and still are a popular staple food of the region. This museum illustrates the stages of chestnut harvesting and emphasises to the visitor, all the wonderful products that they are used in! They can be ground into sweet flour and made into a light bread called Polenta which is often eaten with some delicious locally produced ricotta cheese. Try it for yourself in ‘Ristorante Il Convivio dei corsi’ located in the town centre before moving onto the next stop of this interesting trail.
Less than twelve kilometres from here is the busy town of Rassina. It has a beautiful stream of the same name flowing beside it which empties nearby into the River Arno. In 1992, this town was destroyed by a raging flood spilling over the banks of the Arno. This town has prospered over the years because it is an industrial cement producing area; in fact, it’s one of the largest in Europe!
Tourists with an interest in World War II will learn that Rassina was used a safe hold for American soldiers to hide in while preparing an attack on German borders.
The next charming town on this trail is Talla, just over ten minutes drive from Rassina.
There is a cheese factory here where the visitor can buy Pecorino cheese along with local wines, salamis and other produce. The region of Casentino is famous for its strong tasting Pecorino cheese with the rich aromas of herbs and mountain flowers. Made from sheep’s milk, it’s delicious to eat either fresh or aged and is usually served with tasty Tuscan bread and pears. It also tastes delicious with honey from the area.
Tourists with an interest in World War II will learn that Rassina was used a safe hold for American soldiers to hide in while preparing an attack on German borders.
The next charming town on this trail is Talla, just over ten minutes drive from Rassina.
There is a cheese factory here where the visitor can buy Pecorino cheese along with local wines, salamis and other produce. The region of Casentino is famous for its strong tasting Pecorino cheese with the rich aromas of herbs and mountain flowers. Made from sheep’s milk, it’s delicious to eat either fresh or aged and is usually served with tasty Tuscan bread and pears. It also tastes delicious with honey from the area.
There’s also a beautiful church in the town called San Nicolo where you can admire a 16th century decorative organ. If you wish to stay here for a few hours, there’s a lovely horse riding centre nearby where you can book in for a lesson before embarking on a local trail around the town.
Less than twelve kilometres from Talla is the town of Castel Focognano which is built around the 11th century castle it’s named after.
A few kilometres from here is the intriguing church of Sant’Antonio in Socana. It was built by the Etruscans as a pagan Temple of worship and sacrifice.
Visitors can still see the sacrificial alter they used as part of their rituals. When the Romans took control of these lands, they used the church for their own worship. Christian finally made use of the building as their place of prayer. What makes this building so captivating are the elements that each group left behind within the walls of this church.
Other worthwhile places of interest in the area include the mill of Bonano and the Tower of Ronda which is now used as a tourist centre. It shows the tourist a wealth of information about the rural culture of the Casentino.
By the end of this scenic day trip of a section of Casentino, you are sure to have learned much about the region and its heritage; it’s a wonderful way to observe authentic Italian culture at its roots.
Less than twelve kilometres from Talla is the town of Castel Focognano which is built around the 11th century castle it’s named after.
A few kilometres from here is the intriguing church of Sant’Antonio in Socana. It was built by the Etruscans as a pagan Temple of worship and sacrifice.
Visitors can still see the sacrificial alter they used as part of their rituals. When the Romans took control of these lands, they used the church for their own worship. Christian finally made use of the building as their place of prayer. What makes this building so captivating are the elements that each group left behind within the walls of this church.
Other worthwhile places of interest in the area include the mill of Bonano and the Tower of Ronda which is now used as a tourist centre. It shows the tourist a wealth of information about the rural culture of the Casentino.
By the end of this scenic day trip of a section of Casentino, you are sure to have learned much about the region and its heritage; it’s a wonderful way to observe authentic Italian culture at its roots.
