Sasso di Simone Nature Reserve
The protected nature reserve is home to a curious and enormous chalky cliff
The Sasso di Simone Nature Reserve is located in an incredible border land between Emilia Romagna and Le Marche, vaunting more than 1,000 hectres of protected land in the Valtiberina and home to the famous cliff.
The “stone” in the reserve is a rocky cliff more than 1,200 metres tall, a natural terrace from atop which visitors can admire a spectacular view that sometimes even extends all the way to the sea. The cliff was historically used by Pagan cults due to its shape. In the Middle Ages, the area around it was heavily visited, as merchants and pilgrims would pass through here on the way to Rome. In the 16th century, the cliff captured the attention of Cosimo I de’ Medici, who decided to build a fortified city to defend Florence, calling it Città del Sole.
The reserve is criss-crossed by numerous trails, along which visitors can discover unspoilt territories characterized by flowering fields, lush paths and steep ravines. The reserve is home to a rich variety of animal life, including wolves, foxes, deer, skunks and birds such as hawks, owls and woodpeckers.
