しかし、私の洞窟・トップ4

A medieval town with charming streets and climbs. Buildings full of history.

On the top of Monte Verruca, at 537 meters above sea level, an ancient and decaying fortress dominates the Pisan plain and the Arno valley. According to legend, there is a connection – underground and secret – between the fortress and the center of the city of Pisa.

You usually get here along the embankment by bicycle or on foot. The bank that runs along the Arno allows you to discover the small villages located in this area embraced by the Arno river. Often, a small church and a small cemetery distinguish each urban agglomeration in this area.

The profile of the fortress that joins the steep wall ... a unique spectacle with the Pisan mountains in the background. the fortress of Caprona is a destination absolutely to be reached. The road to get there is not long and can be traveled on foot or by MTB.

The Verruca fortress rises in the municipality of Calci, in the province of Pisa, on the top of Monte Verruca. It can be reached by following the Firenze-Pisa highway, exiting at Cascina, then continuing towards Vicopisano. From the village, take the 'strada della Verruca' which starts from the village cemetery. Although largely unpaved, it can be traveled by car up to the foot of the rock where the Rocca stands. From here you can walk up to the top in about 20 minutes. Source: https://castellitoscani.com/verruca/

This is the Rocca del Brunelleschi, commissioned to the architect Filippo Brunelleschi after the village besieged for eight months by the Florentines, had been definitively conquered by them against the city of Pisa. The victory for Florence had been very important and had to be maintained over time: Vicopisano covered a decidedly strategic area thanks to the confluence of the Arno river which connected it to Pisa and the Auser river which put it in communication with Lake Sextum and therefore with the Lucchesia. . In 1435 the project was entrusted to Filippo Brunelleschi who showed his idea to the government commission through a project made of wood and clay; the project gathered enthusiasm and work began immediately which drastically changed a large part of the town of Vicopisano. The existing tower was modified with the aim of being impregnable and autonomous in terms of water and food.

The village of Ripoli, located in the bend of the Arno, with the beautiful brick church and the remains of the castle (still inhabited) is easily reachable from Pisa either on foot or by bike through the cycle path that runs along the crest of the river bank. .

Both the Caprona tower and the Verruca fortress can be easily reached on foot or by mountain bike