Holiday apartment in Donnini: culture, landscape and the CAI trail

Romanesque church, art and valley views

The Pieve di San Pietro a Pitiana in Donnini is a Romanesque church. From outside the Pieve di San Pietro a Pitiana, there is a view across the valley. The Pieve di San Pietro a Pitiana houses two 16th-century paintings by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio. Its portico also dates from the 16th century. A plaque at the Pieve di San Pietro a Pitiana commemorates the fact that Marsilio Ficino wrote the “Theologia platonica” there between 1469 and 1474. The Romanesque architectural style thus stands alongside the paintings, the portico and the plaque. At the same time, the view across the valley opens the church site onto the surrounding landscape.

Le Balze and the Valdarno plateau

Le Balze are located in an area of local protected interest and are among the defining features of the Valdarno plateau. The view across the valley at the Pieve and the location of Le Balze on the plateau provide two distinct landscape accents. The landscape experience therefore extends from the valley view at the church site to the plateau landscape.

Culture in Reggello and the surrounding area

The “Notti d’Estate” Festival della Cultura is an annual event in Reggello and its districts. Festival events are held, among other places, in the Parco Urbano di Donnini. In the wider regional area around Donnini lies Castello di Porciano, a castle. Museo Bandini, La Fornacella and Casa Masaccio are museums in the wider regional area around Donnini. The cultural selection thus ranges from an event in Reggello to a castle and museums in the wider area around Donnini.

Mountains around Donnini

Poggio Stefanieri is a mountain in the area around Donnini. Monte Pianellaccio is also a mountain in the area around Donnini. Il Pratone is a mountain in the wider regional area around Donnini. Monte Falterona is also a mountain in the wider regional area around Donnini. In addition to the mountains in the surrounding area, Il Pratone and Monte Falterona are therefore also part of the wider regional area around Donnini.

The CAI trail from Sant’Ellero station

The “Percorso della ferrovia – Sant’Ellero / Vallombrosa” trail is integrated into the CAI trail network and begins at Sant’Ellero station. The station can be reached by train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Firenze Rovezzano and Firenze Campo di Marte in 20 to 30 minutes. The 20-to-30-minute journey can be planned as a separate part of the trip. The “Percorso della ferrovia – Sant’Ellero / Vallombrosa” project envisages converting the historic route of the rack railway into an equipped trail. The rack railway once connected Sant’Ellero station with the town of Vallombrosa. In the project, the equipped trail is intended for hikers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.

For further orientation, you can also open the neighboring entries: Fornaci Incisa, San Donato Fronzano, Sant'ellero, Tallini, Vallombrosa, Tosi and Cancelli.

For the higher-level travel overview: Reggello.