Holiday apartment in Calci: Certosa, Monti Pisani and olive oil

Calci between Valgraziosa and the Monti Pisani

Calci lies at the foot of the Monti Pisani in the heart of Valgraziosa, a natural amphitheatre. This setting combines a mountain landscape with churches, monastic architecture and the region’s olive-growing culture. When choosing a holiday apartment in Calci, you can plan your stay according to your preferred balance of nature, culture and culinary discovery.

The Certosa and cultural spaces

At the Certosa di Calci, visitors can see the large cloister, a monk’s cell, the church, the chapels, the refectory and the chapter house. The sacristy displays the Bibbia atlantica, an illuminated 12th-century manuscript in four volumes. Sacred spaces and a historic book artefact thus come together within a compact cultural setting.

Calci’s cultural heritage also includes Castelmaggiore, a fortification and the former main settlement of the area. The interior of the Pieve di Calci also offers a clear architectural detail: three naves are separated by granite columns. The University of Pisa’s Museo di Storia Naturale houses zoological, palaeontological and mineralogical collections, as well as Italy’s largest freshwater aquarium.

In the village of Nicosia, the church of Sant’Agostino displays the nativity scene “Il Presepio che cresce di Nicosia”, which is expanded with a new figure every year. Since 2013, the nativity scenes have been displayed again each year during the festive season at the University of Pisa’s Museo di Storia Naturale in the Certosa di Calci.

Days in nature and olive oil from Calci

On the western side of Monte Pisano lies Valgraziosa, with chestnut woods, Mediterranean maquis and old terraced olive groves. Numerous paths lead from Valgraziosa up into the Monti Pisani. In Calci, it is possible to hike through the wooded mountains between villages, hermitages, churches and towers. Monte Pisano is considered an attraction for cycling enthusiasts; from its terraces, the view extends as far as Corsica.

The Strada dell’Olio Monti Pisani passes through Calci and runs through five municipalities in total: Buti, Calci, San Giuliano Terme, Vecchiano and Vicopisano. Extra virgin olive oil “IGP Toscano – sottozona Monti Pisani” is produced in this area from hand-picked and cold-pressed olives of the Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo varieties. The Festa dell’Olio takes place in November and includes a tasting of olive oil from Calci.

Getting there and holiday apartments in Calci

Calci can be reached from Pisa’s central Sesta Porta bus station on buses 120 and 161 in around 30 minutes. Travellers arriving by train can take the Pisa–Florence route to Pisa station and continue from there by bus to Calci. When choosing your holiday apartment in Calci, you can incorporate the cultural programme, mountain trails and journey into your daily itinerary.

Calci therefore offers several concrete points of interest for different daily rhythms: sacred interiors and natural history collections, as well as paths, villages and olive groves.

Further destinations for planning your trip:Pontedera, Uliveto Terme, Lajatico, Calcinaia, Terricciola, Sasso Pisano, Monteverdi Marittimo, Santa Colomba

For the higher-level travel overview: Pisa.