Impruneta, the terracotta village

All Around Florence! Terracotta, olive oil, and wine are the symbols of one of the most recognizable villages in the Florentine area: Impruneta (or l'Impruneta, as the locals call it). This municipality, located just a few kilometers from Florence, boasts a powerful historical and cultural identity. In fact, it is world-renowned for its ancient production of terracotta, known as Cotto di Impruneta.

What to See in Impruneta

Piazza Buondelmonti and Historical Festivals

The town’s historical roots lead back to the Buondelmonti family, whose actions—as famously documented by Dante in the Divine Comedy—triggered the bloody conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines.

The heart of Impruneta is the square bearing the family name, Piazza Buondelmonti, home to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Impruneta, late 16th-century porticos, and the Treasury Museum. On the square you can find the Tourist information office,
This square serves as the stage for the town's traditional celebrations:

• Festa dell’Uva (Grape Festival): Held every last Sunday of September, the four city districts (Pallò, SS. Marie, Fornaci, and S. Antonio) compete to build the most magnificent float. These floats parade through the center and can reach heights of over ten meters.
• Grape Festival Museum & Archive: Since 2020, visitors can explore this space in Piazza Buondelmonti, which houses documentary materials and virtual tours dedicated to this symbolic community tradition.
• Fiera di San Luca: A millennial event and one of the oldest livestock fairs in Europe. It takes place during the week of the patron saint (October 18th), Saint Luke the Evangelist.

Terracotta, Kilns, and Olive Oil

The Municipality of Impruneta represents a magical intersection of ancient kilns (open to visitors), farms, oil mills, olive groves, vineyards, churches, and villas.

Famous for its terracotta manufacturing since the Middle Ages, Impruneta possesses a true treasure in its kilns and the unique quality of its local clay. In 1419, Brunelleschi chose Impruneta’s terracotta to build the Dome of Florence Cathedral, forging an unbreakable bond between the two cities. Today, the production carries the "Artistic and Traditional Ceramics" trademark and is part of the Tuscan "Roads of Ceramics, Terracotta, and Gypsum" itinerary. Among the furnaces, some of them are still active, others such as Fornace Agresti are a sort of museum of this tradition and incredible skill. 

Connected to the kilns is also the typical Imrpuneta dish: peposo dell'Impruneta, a beef stew that was cooked for a long time near the terracotta kilns, simmered in red wine and flavoured with spices.

Ugolino Golf Club

A historic golf course established in 1933, designed by British architects Cecil Blandford and Peter Gannon. It has been named one of the 50 most beautiful golf courses in the world.

This 18-hole course is nestled in the stunning scenery of the Impruneta hills. The natural elevation changes make it both pleasant and challenging for players. The club also features an excellent restaurant.

Slow Tourism: Destination Impruneta – The Renaissance Ring

Nature and trekking enthusiasts can discover Impruneta via the Renaissance Ring (Anello del Rinascimento), featuring two main stages:

1. San Donato in Collina - Impruneta (18 km / 6h): Famous for its woods, particularly the Fonte Santa Park, which (as the name suggests) contains a spring of fresh, clear water.
2. Impruneta - La Certosa - Florence: A comfortable downhill trek. You can visit the famous Certosa (Charterhouse) monastery complex (7 km / 2h), eventually reaching Piazzale Michelangelo and the heart of Florence (6 km / 2h).

Alternatively, from the Certosa, you can head toward Lastra a Signa/Signa via Pian dei Cerri (23 km / 6.5h). The Signa-Florence stretch (12.6 km / 3h) passes through the Parco dei Renai (where you can swim) and the Cascine Park.

How to Get to Impruneta

Located just a few kilometers from Florence, it is easily reachable by bus line 39!

Download the "All Around Florence" Brochure 

To learn more about the Florentine surroundings, download the brochure from the official tourism website of the Municipality and Metropolitan City of Florence: Click here to download.