Holiday apartment in Le Piazze: culture, pilgrimage routes and hiking

Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Le Piazze can organise their travel interests around two strong themes: sacred art and history, as well as routes through the countryside. Since 2006, the Museum of the Pieve di San Giuliano in Castiglion Fiorentino has housed more than one hundred works of sacred art from various churches in the town. This cultural perspective is complemented by circular routes, pilgrimage trails and longer connections for hikers and cyclists.

Sacred art and multilayered history

In the host municipality of Castiglion Fiorentino, the Santuario del Bagno was first reliably documented in 1527. At the Santuario del Bagno in Val di Chio, there is also an old tradition of drinking its water or bathing in it. The Church of Jesus was built between 1527 and 1545. The Collegiate Church of Saints Michael and Julian has a neoclassical structure and a loggia with massive columns on travertine bases.

The Parish Church of Saints Hippolytus and Cassian in Retina also tells the story of several construction phases: remains of a Roman bathhouse were discovered beneath it. These were followed by an early medieval parish church, a Romanesque church and finally a Renaissance building. For those interested in culture, this creates a rich picture of sacred art, architectural history and local traditions, without reducing the individual sites to the same historical period.

Pilgrimage routes and trails for different plans

Castiglion Fiorentino is the arrival point of stage 80 and the starting point of stage 81 on the Via Romea Germanica. In Tuscany, the Walks of Saint Francis form an almost 300-kilometre-long pilgrimage route leading to places connected with important episodes in the saint's life. The Bonifica Trail is a developed cycling and hiking trail approximately 62 km long, connecting Arezzo with Chiusi.

Several clearly distinct routes are available for shorter hiking days. The Olive Trail is a 4.3-km circular route through olive groves and vineyards, requiring only limited hiking experience and accessible on foot. The Badia Trail covers 7.2 km, is also accessible on foot and is suitable for experienced hikers. A holiday apartment in Le Piazze can therefore become a suitable starting point for very different day-trip ideas when planning a journey; the key question is whether you are planning a short loop, a more demanding walk or a longer connection into the surrounding area.

The Sentiero del Romitorio is an 8.1-km walking trail for experienced hikers. It begins at the foot of Montecchio Castle, runs along the slopes of Mount Sant'Egidio to Parco delle Comunanze and offers views over the Valdichiana. The moderately difficult circular hike Castiglion Fiorentino Cippo Meoni is connected to Le Piazze; it is 11.27 km long and has 505 m of positive and negative elevation gain. The Cippo Fabrizio Meoni is one of the well-known sculptures by Giuseppe Dorgioni.

Places and landscapes in the surrounding area

Castello di Montecchio Vesponi and Monte Castiglion Maggio are located in the immediate vicinity of Le Piazze. The surrounding area also includes the Museo della Civiltà Contadina di Fratticciola, the Museo Diocesano Del Capitolo and the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca. Monte Corneta and Alta San Egidio are also located nearby. Monte Castel Giudeo lies in the wider regional surroundings of Le Piazze. This spatial distinction helps you weigh cultural destinations, landscapes and different route lengths when choosing a holiday apartment.

Further destinations for orientation

If you would like to explore the immediate surroundings further, the direct links to the localities lead to Pergognano, Montecchio, Polvano and Castroncello.

For the higher-level travel overview: Castiglion Fiorentino.