The Medici Route

A jubilation of historical and scenic wonders opens the journey. The itinerary begins in the Cascine di Tavola Park, an urban green area of about 300 hectares just outside the city of Prato, built in the 15th century at the behest of Lorenzo the Magnificent.

Leaving Prato, we approach Poggio a Caiano and its splendid Medici Villa, also built at the behest of Lorenzo the Magnificent and designed by Giuliano da Sangallo that masterfully mixes Renaissance architecture with typical elements of Tuscan rural architecture.

But it is by immersing oneself in the splendid hills of Carmignano, the natural prelude to the village of Artimino and the land of the excellent Carmignano DOCG wine, that it is possible to know all the magnificence of the Medici. The Villa "La Ferdinanda" reveals itself in all its beauty at the gates of Artimino, at the end of the stage. Otherwise known as the “Villa dei Cento Camini” (Villa of the Hundred Chimneys), it was designed by Buontalenti and commissioned by Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici. Built as a hunting lodge, it later became a residence dedicated to idleness and artistic ferment.

We leave Artimino, but only after having made a small loop nearby, to discover the fascinating Etruscan Necropolis of Prato Rosello. The area is home to numerous archaeological remains, also collected by the Etruscan Museum in Artimino.

Heading towards Bacchereto, the nature of Montalbano is a place were to be fully immersed, harmoniously marked by human hand. There are several rural little churches along the route, such as the Parish Church of San Martino in Campo and the Abbey of San Giusto, steeped in history and legend. The Devil’s Boulder, in the archaeological and naturalistic area of Pietramarina, is an enormous sandstone monolith probably used as an altar during Etruscan times, whose name has its origins in a print on the rock resembling a goat’s paw of the devil. It is a bewitching place surrounded by vegetation not far from the end of this second stage, which is the most challenging of the entire itinerary in terms of length and altitude difference.

The route travels along the Montalbano ridge characterized by prosperous vegetation that however hides evidence of human activity, especially of medieval origin. The ruins of the Tower of Sant'Alluccio, a rural complex that was part of the estate of Count Spalletti, located within the Medici Barco Reale, are an example of this. A hunting lodge established in the early 1600s by Grand Duke Ferdinando II de' Medici, it is a game reserve enclosed by a circumference of about 52 kilometers of walls, some remains of which can be seen today; extending between Poggio a Caiano, Carmignano, Artimino, Poggio alla Malva, Bacchereto, Porciano, the route crosses much of it.

Descending from the southern slope of Montalbano, the route leaves the wooded areas to immerse in the hills dear to Leonardo da Vinci and reach his birthplace. With a focus on the undisputed Renaissance genius, visitors can explore the Leonardiano Museum in the historic heart of Vinci and Leonardo’s birthplace in the countryside just outside the village. This is where the second-to-last stop is concluded.

The fourth and final stage starts off winding through sinuous landscapes marked by the geometry of vineyards and olive groves, with a fairly gentle gradient.

A few ups and downs and Cerreto Guidi opens its doors, showing its delightful historic center where the Medici Villa stands imposingly. A UNESCO World Heritage architectural jewel and an extraordinary example of Italian Renaissance, the villa was commissioned by Duke Cosimo I de' Medici as a hunting lodge and owes part of its notoriety to the tragic fate of Isabella de' Medici, whose death in the residence hangs between history and legend.

Continuing along the path, towards the end, we reach the charming village of Fucecchio, brushed by one of the most special and naturalistically precious environments in Tuscany, the Padule di Fucecchio (Fucecchio Marsh). Italy’s largest inland marsh area, it is protected by the nature reserve of the same name, which protects habitats of great importance especially for birdlife. It also protects testimonies of historical value such as the Medici Bridge in Cappiano, which ideally concludes this splendid voyage of discovery of the lands and history linked to the Medici family.

Close to the Tower of Sant'Alluccio, an ancient medieval ruin of the third stage, you can undertake a beautiful ring that involves the territory of Quarrata. An area that grew in value starting from the purchase by Francesco I of the Villa La Magia in 1583, becoming part of the Medici possessions. The proximity to the Barco Reale confirmed the prestige of the villa, also demonstrated by the passage of Emperor Charles V in 1536.

Villa la Magia, restored by Buontalenti, features elegant Renaissance architecture with decorated facades and sumptuous interiors and is surrounded by a vast park with Italian-style gardens and natural landscapes. It houses precious works of art and period furnishings that testify to its noble past and historical importance, as well as housing a permanent collection of contemporary art organized in the La Magia Park Museum. A jewel that enriches the circular route with elegance and charm.

The ring involves the south-eastern part of Montalbano and for much of the route it overlooks the Arno, a natural watershed dividing the heights of Montalbano from those of Roveta. The river is bordered by a convenient cycle-pedestrian path.

Over the centuries, this area has witnessed the transhumance of cattle migrating from the Pistoia Apennines to the Maremma and is dotted with villages and historical pearls. Along the route, we come across Nave di Camaioni, a strategic place on the right bank of the Arno from which ferries departed for the passage of goods and transport of people, the castle of Capraia and the village of Montelupo Fiorentino, where you can admire the majestic Medici Villa of the Ambrogiana, Cosimo III's favorite residence. The village also has a museum system involving archaeology, contemporary art and ceramics. Montelupo's ancient tradition of artistic craftsmanship has its roots in the Renaissance period, and evidence of this can also be found along the route, such as the Pasquinucci Furnace.