카스텔 산 니콜로‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪3‬개의 협곡

Piantravigne is a small medieval village overlooking the spectacular Balze del Valdarno, clay gullies created by the retreat of an ancient lake. The landscape here is striking, almost lunar, and makes this place truly unique. A Pazzi castle once stood here, destroyed in 1302 after a siege during the battles between the Whites and the Blacks. This episode is also recalled by Dante in the Inferno (Canto XXXII).

Between Gorgiti and Rocca Ricciarda, an initial paved stretch skirts the houses, and then the trail enters the greenery along the Ciuffenna. It steepens at times, but remains clear and accessible, alternating approaches and short escapes from the stream. The chestnut forest accompanies you: less than three kilometers and about 300 meters of elevation gain lead to Rocca Ricciarda, a medieval village clinging to the hillside, built around its castle.

Also recommended as a rest stop with a beautiful view.

Borghetto overlooking the Balze del Valdarno. If you climb from the valley, a 1km climb with good gradients. I did it downhill from Setteponti.

As well as being very fascinating with their shapes and colours, the crags represent the geological history of Valdarno. The various layers of sediments that were deposited in the various periods in which Valdarno was formed can be distinguished very well. A small GranCanyon at the foot of PratoMagno, another gem of this wonderful Tuscany

Small but charming village, very quiet just before entering Le Balze di Val d'Arno.

Precious view over the center of the village of Loro Ciuffenna.

They recall, with due proportions, the most famous American canyons, but if you come from here these too have their own particular charm. The Balze del Valdarno, also known as Smotte, are a characteristic geotope, made up of stratified sands, clays and gravels, up to a hundred meters high, of diversified shapes, interspersed with deep gorges. These are the result of the erosion of the Pliocene lake sediments of the Upper Valdarno by atmospheric agents and watercourses because the Valdarno was a lake.