By bike among the Medici Villas

Montalbano is a corner of Tuscany which guards the Medici Villas, a Unesco World Heritage Site, Etruscan archaeological areas, villages and parish churches of by-gone times. The area is known for its fine Carmignano DOCG wine, its flavors, beautiful landscapes and history. It is no coincidence that the Medici, lovers of hunting, art and banquets, built their most beautiful and sumptuous country residences here!

We begin our trail from the convenient parking area inside the Cascine di Tavola in Prato to head along the dirt road in the direction of Poggetto - Bargo mediceo di Bonistallo. We pass by the Medici Cascina and reach the Ponte Manetti, which we will cross to go over the Ombrone River. We head towards Poggio a Caiano and follow the itinerary to visit the beautiful Medici Villa and its park, with specimens of plants and trees of remarkable size and value. We then move in the direction of Artimino along the Via Arrendevole to visit the village and the Medici Villa La Ferdinanda.

We turn back in the direction of La Serra to take Via di Montalgeto in the direction of Verghereto. The road, initially practicable, unpaved and on a false level, after passing the first cluster of houses becomes steeper. We arrive at the village of Verghereto and the Ginestre Farm, and then continue our route until we reach the intersection with Via Vergheretana. We head towards Carmignano, ride past it and turn left at the square in the direction of Seano. We arrive there, leaving the Quinto Martini Museum Park on the left, and at the junction with Via Baccheretana we turn right and come onto the Pista Rossa (Red Runway). We turn right onto Regional Road 66 until we reach the roundabout at Via del Bargo, which we should take in order to pass further alongside the sports field and then pass alongside the walls of the Barco mediceo di Bonistallo.

Arriving at the parking lot, we cross the road from the pedestrian crossing, we cross the beautiful Manetti Bridge again, and retrace the route taken on the way out to return to the starting point.