Refreshing forests

How did you imagine the countryside around Florence? Vineyards and olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see, dotted with the odd cypress tree?   There aren’t just hills around Florence, but also mountains crowned with splendid forests. 
So, given that it’s very hot and we all need to reconnect with nature, here are a few ideas for visiting the four wildest and most interesting forests… all around Florence!

Monte Morello

The nearest mountain, the one that literally towers over Florence and the plain, is Monte Morello, with its ‘three peaks’ – the highest of which, at 934 metres, is known as Poggio all’Aia.
There are many walking routes to choose from, all of which wind through the area’s native flora: oaks, chestnut trees, black pines, cypresses and silver firs.

It has not always been this way; in the past, logging for firewood had been very extensive. It was the House of Lorraine who, by establishing a vast hunting reserve stretching from the Cascine to Monte Morello and Pratolino, safeguarded the area’s flora. The current appearance of Monte Morello, with its woodlands, is the result of reforestation carried out between 1909 and the 1970s.

Monte Senario

There are many stories to tell about Monte Senario, ranging from the 13th-century history of the monks who founded the monastery – which is still in use today thanks to the original Order of the Servants of Mary – to the modern forest therapy programmes that are certified in this woodland,

The forest surrounding the hill on which the monastery stands is entirely covered with firs, chestnut trees and oaks, to which black pines, Douglas firs and Scots pines have been added in more recent times. The place is imbued with a strong sense of spirituality, and it is a very beautiful, restful and cool natural setting. There are walking trails and places to rest, which is why local residents favour it as a destination to escape the heat. It lies within the municipality of Vaglia and offers views over the Mugello.

The Foresta di Sant’Antonio

Part of the Pratomagno mountain range, it is situated in the municipality of Reggello and ranges in altitude from 700 to 1,490 metres. We are therefore in the mountains, in a section of the better-known Vallombrosa Forest, within an environment that remains largely unspoilt. The trees here consist of beech and deciduous trees interspersed with grasslands. 
Historically, the fortunes of this forest have mirrored those of the larger complex to which it belonged: the vast forest surrounding the Abbey of Vallombrosa, including the statue of Saint Anthony, which is preserved here.

It is said that the statue was carved from the trunk of a large pear tree that had withered in a field and was subsequently regarded as miraculous because, when placed in the fireplace, it would not burn.
The forest is a protected area.

National Park Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona & Campigna – the Londa gateway

Londa is one of the gateways to one of Italy’s most important national parks, characterised on the Tuscan side by beech and silver fir trees. The park gives the Londa area its distinctive character; the town centre is also home to one of the visitor centres where you can find information and resources to help you explore these forests. The mountains here reach a maximum height of 1,500 metres but offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, from walking and mountain biking to horse riding… and simply relaxing in the cool air.