If you want to stay five days in Mugello, we suggest, as well as the recommended itineraries, an unforgettable visit to Upper Mugello, also known as Tuscan Romagna, through the towns of Firenzuola, Palazzuolo sul Senio and Marradi.
This territory, more than any other, has taken great care to keep and preserve its natural resources and social traditions. To reach Upper Mugello from the Mugello valley, you must take the roads that lead up to the passes (Passo della Futa, del Giogo, della
Colla, del Muraglione) that guide you over the mountain out of Tuscany and into Romagna. Upper Mugello offers its visitors many different ways of enjoying the natural environment and its
incredible resources:
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nature walks can be taken in groups, families or alone along SO.F.T. (Florence Springs Trekking) paths: a series of trekking routes that run from the top of the mountains down to the valley;
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“equitation-tourism” for horse riding fans who would love to ride along fairly easy, but extremely suggestive paths and side roads;
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on speed bikes and mountain bikes you can take advantage of the fresh, clean air; let's discover the very important cyclist system www.mugelloinbike.it
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fishing, climbing, orienteering and many others activities are available for those people who want to fully enjoy their spare time and get away from the stress of everyday life.
Here, more than in any other part of Mugello, the cuisine and the produce have preserved their traditional genuineness. In the Marradi cuisine, numerous recipes using the “Marrone del Mugello” (Mugello chestnuts) have been handed down from generation to generation: for example, the famous cake, the delicious pudding and the scrumptious fried tortellini. In Palazzuolo you will find liqueurs, jams and syrups made from wild berries, as well as Senese “Cinta” pork meat, an ancient breed of pigs with dark hide and a white band (cinta) around its middle, and dishes prepared with fine home grown herbs. In Firenzuola the meat is organc, and the cattle graze on sweet- smelling mountain fields.
We suggest an itinerary that begins in Firenzuola “new Florentine land”, with a visit to the Museum of “Pietra Serena” (the typical sand stone), situated in the Town Hall, called “La Rocca”, which is dedicated to the traditional excavation, and working of the sand stone (tel. +39 055 8199434-5), and a trip to the nearby Moscheta, where, besides excursions on foot or on horseback, it is also possible to visit the Museum of the historical Mugello Apennine landscape in the thousand year old Vallombrosian Abbey (tel. +39 055 845271).
On leaving Firenzuola, the route takes you to San Pellegrino, Coniale and Tirli, and after about 30 km on a road with very little traffic, you reach Palazzuolo sul Senio. This quaint, extremely well kept medieval village on the banks of the Senio River conserves the impressive 14th century Palazzo dei Capitani in the main square. It is the home of the Museo delle Genti di Montagna and Museo Archeologico Alto Mugello, and the Upper Mugello Archaeological Museum (tel. +39 055 8046008 - 055 8046125). Not far off we can admire the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Nevi of Quadalto, built in the fifteenth century ( tel. +39 055 8046072). From Palazzuolo the route takes you a mere 12 km away to Marradi. The town, where the poet Dino Campana was born and lived, preserves an important historical centre with many prestigious palaces, the extremely elegant Animosi Theatre with its typical late 18th century style and the San Lorenzo Church which holds the splendid late 15th century paintings by the Maestro of Marradi (tel. +39 055 8045024). From Marradi the road takes you to San Benedetto in Alpe, and just a few kilometres away you can appreciate the splendid Badia del Borgo (Santa Reparata in Salto), which dates back to the 11th century.
