Discover Sammontana: Holiday Rentals, Trails, Art and History

Sammontana is a hamlet of Montelupo. The hamlet is home to the Sentiero CAI 476, the Fattoria di Sammontana, historic buildings and the Marco Bagnoli Studio. The topics range from a route with specific distance information to a parish, the history of villas and distilleries, and an ever-changing exhibition of works.

Hiking and Mountain Biking on the Sentiero CAI 476

The Sentiero CAI 476 is 9.4 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 240 metres. It is suitable for hiking and mountain biking. The trail passes the Chiesa di Santa Maria a Sammontana and the artificial lake Lago artificiale di Sammontana. When preparing for a hike or mountain-bike ride, the route length and elevation gain provide the two objective key figures. They give the chosen activity a clear mathematical framework.

The completed 476 loop trail of the 4 Valleys network begins in Sammontana, climbs to Botinaccio and then descends towards the Arno. When planning the route, the climb to Botinaccio can be included as a section of the tour.

Church, Estate and Historic Buildings

S. Maria a Sammontana is a parish. The Fattoria di Sammontana borders a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century. In 1867, the Fattoria di Sammontana estate, including the main villa, the church, the distillery and the surrounding farmland, was acquired by Michele Dzieduszycki.

The history of the Fornace di Sammontana dates back to 1700, when it was founded to produce ceramics and terracotta materials. The Villa di Salingrosso probably already existed in the Middle Ages; surviving traces of towers and the enclosing walls that still stand today point to this. Ceramic production, towers and enclosing walls provide different specific starting points for exploring the history of the area.

Art at the Marco Bagnoli Studio

The Marco Bagnoli Studio at Via della Quercia 9 in the Sammontana hamlet of Montelupo is a multifunctional space that the artist conceived as a total work of art. It houses a constantly changing temporary exhibition of his works from 1972 to the present day. The studio is intended to become part of the local artistic heritage. The spatial concept and the exhibition of works are both integral to the studio's design.

The Pro Loco of Montelupo organises a series of events at the studio, with guided tours and thematic focuses on the works displayed there.

Wine and Olive Oil as Part of the Area's Character

The Fattoria di Sammontana was formerly owned by the Medici family. Today, the farm produces high-quality wine and high-quality olive oil according to organic and biodynamic criteria. Wine and olive oil complement the historical and artistic themes with an agricultural aspect.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to compare other places besides Sammontana, you can find Camaioni and Poppiano here.

For the overview of the wider area, see: Montelupo Fiorentino.