Holiday apartment in San Leolino – history, olive oil and trails

San Leolino lies on a gentle hill, framed by ancient cypresses and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. The surrounding wall of the Castello di San Leolino stands on a sandstone outcrop and retains its original elliptical shape. Here, landscape, fortified history and a regional culinary culture come together in a small area. When choosing a holiday apartment in San Leolino, you can shape your travel plans around this combination of nature, culture and regional products.

Castle, parish church and literary traces

The medieval castle of San Leolino was owned by the Guidi counts. A document from the end of the 13th century mentions the Castello di San Leolino; it may have been built as early as the preceding century. The church’s history can also be dated: the Pieve di San Leolino became a parish church between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Its present appearance is the result of alterations carried out from the late 17th through the entire 18th century.

San Leolino is also associated with Quirina Mocenni Magiotti. Between 1802 and 1847, she wrote numerous letters to the poet Ugo Foscolo from San Leolino. Her house is located in the courtyard of the San Leolino rectory complex.

Trails through vineyards and woodland

CAI Trail No. 345 passes San Leolino. Beyond it, the landscape changes from vineyards and olive groves to woodland, where sweet chestnuts, beeches, downy oaks and strawberry trees can be found. Trail 345 is considered easy to walk. Another way to find your bearings is the circular La Via dell’Olio route, which passes through San Leolino.

Olive oil, crostino and the village festivals

The Festa dell’Olio usually takes place on the first Sunday in December at the premises of the Circolo di San Leolino APS and along the village streets. It includes a morning hike through the woods and a visit to the Frantoio dell’Olivone. At the Festa dell’Olio and the eighth edition of the 2024 Olio Nuovo della Valdambra competition in San Leolino, the Olio della Biodiversità della Valdambra was presented, an extra virgin olive oil made from olives grown in the collection garden for olive biodiversity.

The culinary side is also reflected in crostino nero: ground chicken livers are sautéed with extra virgin olive oil and served on slices of bread soaked in broth or lightly toasted. The Sagra del Crostino takes place in San Leolino during the first week of June and has been held for more than fifty years. As for the wine tradition, a look back at 1427 is enough: the Trebbiani and Vermigli produced in the areas of San Leolino, Cennina and Galatrona were among the more valuable wines recorded in the Florentine cadastre. Trebbiani were white wines, while Vermigli were red wines.

Discover more places

If you would like to compare San Leolino with other places: Ambra, Capannole, Solata, Badia Agnano, Cennina, San Pancrazio, Pietraviva, Levane.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Bucine.