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HILLS
>> VALDISIEVE
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INTRODUCTION
The Valdisieve is the closest mountain to Florence and comprehends
the municipalities of Dicomano, Londa, Pelago, Pontassieve, Reggello,
ufina and San Godenzo. A green and uncontaminated area which extends
from the valley of the Sieve river to the border of the Mugello,
with an environmental importance and therefore protected by several
natural reserves.
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In
the Valdissieve you find parts of the Parco Nazionale delle Foreste
Casentinesi, the Riserva Biogenetica of Vallombrosa, the Foresta di
Sant'Antonio with beeches and chestnut-trees everywhere, the ridges
of the Monte Giovi, at the border to the Mugello, and downhill the
sweet hills cultivated with olive-trees and vineyards. The Valdissieve
is in fact since centuries the area where vegetables and fruit are
cultivated for the Florentines' tables. Not to mention the production
of olive oil and wine. The roads along the hills of the Valdissieve
should be run with tranquillity, to discover the villas, churches,
fortresses and wine-shops. Particularly interesting is the Strada
dei Vini Chianti Rufina e Pomino which winds among the farms where
an excellent local red wine is produced. The uncontaminated area of
the Valdissieve, also called the Florentine mountain, can be explored
walking or on the horse-back thanks to the many trails carried out
by the C.A.I, tracks going around the slopes of the Pratomagno, in
the marvellous forests of Vallombrosa and Sant'Antonio, with chestnut-trees
and conifers, along pure and impetuous water courses.
The extraordinary naturalistic heritage of the Valdissieve
is integrated with precious historical and artistic monuments, which
testify the long-time presence of man in this territory. From the
Etruscans, who started the growing of olive-trees and vines, to the
Romans who built fortresses and colonies, to the medieval dioceses
which took over the control after the Roman civitas and all other
civilisations who have settled here and left traces of their culture.
The Pazzi, Guidi and Ubaldini families built villas, fortresses and
roads here during the Middle Ages. During the Florentine domination
in the 14th century, it was the rich middle-class from Florence who
built villas and gardens in the countryside. In the 15th century,
Florence plotted Valdissieve with fortified fortresses and access
roads, connecting its destiny to the destiny of the Grand Duchy of
Tuscany until the unification of Italy. |
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