Anello del Passignano: in the homeland of painter Domenico Cresti

A splendid green area of Chianti to be explored on foot in every season, starting from the evocative Badia a Passignano: this is the Anello del Passignano, an itinerary that will take you to learn more about the land of Renaissance painter Domenico Cresti, known as Il Passignano.

The hiking itinerary is located a few kilometers from Florence, in the heart of Barberino Tavarnelle: a trail suitable for everyone, with CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) signage, ideal in every season of the year.

The trail largely follows the road that borders the perimeter of the protected natural area of Badia a Passignano, along the road of the Guardingo di Passignano, an important route that connected the Val di Greve with the Val di Pesa.

The starting point is the beautiful Badia a Passignano, which can be easily reached by car. Take the opportunity to admire the monastery, already known in the year 1000, and characterized by the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo. Despite the renovations undergone over time, this spiritual place remains one of the most evocative in Tuscany, where you can still breathe history. Inside, in addition to frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio, those by Il Passignano himself, who painted the vault of the main chapel, stand out.

Leaving Badia a Passignano, take the dirt road to Poggio al Vento, which runs alongside wide Chianti vineyards and cool woods. Along the way you can also visit the fortified village of Poggio al Vento, with the church of Sant'Andrea, which offers exceptional views over much of the Chianti region.

A few kilometers from Badia a Passignano, here is the Cappella dei Pesci, erected in memory of the miracle of San Giovanni Gualberto, founder of the Vallombrosian order. According to legend, the monk Giovanni Gualberto asked some lay brothers to fetch 2 fish at the Camugnana spring to offer them to Pope Leo IX who was visiting the Abbey. The lay brothers pointed out that there were no fish there, but when they were near the spring, they found 2 large pike. Since then the waters have been considered thaumaturgical, and in 1510 Don Jacopo Mindria da Bibbiena erected the chapel still visible to passersby today.

Continuing the walk, among the unmistakable Chianti landscapes, we reach Casa Pugliano: this is where Domenico Cresti, later called Il Passignano from these very places, was born in 1559.

Once past the ditch of Fontepuzzoli you descend through woods and vineyards reaching Badia di Passignano again.
The Anello de Il Passignano is one of the routes that are part of the Rete Escursionistica Chianti Classico a series of itineraries that allow you to explore the municipalities of Chianti.