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Stage along the route via Vallombrosa
Crossing one of the oldest Arno crossings, the Ponte di San Clemente—also known as Ponte a Rignano—built along the historic Via Cassia Adriana, the Roman consular road that once connected Arezzo to Fiesole and Florence, Rignano sull’Arno gradually fades into the distance as the path immerses itself in the Tuscan countryside.
Following small trails through wooded areas and rural landscapes, travelers encounter the stunning scenery of the Valdarno and places of faith with significant historical and artistic value, such as the Pieve di San Pietro a Pitiana, in the municipality of Reggello. Surrounded by rolling hills adorned with vineyards and olive groves, the church houses two paintings by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio.
The stage ends at the Abbey of Vallombrosa—a magnificent and imposing structure founded in 1036 by the Benedictine monk Saint Giovanni Gualberto. Today, it remains a place of prayer, retreat, and silence, enveloped in an atmosphere of spirituality and nature. Embraced by the Vallombrosa Forest—a renowned green expanse shaped and nurtured over centuries by the monks—the abbey also houses an ancient pharmacy, where traditional monastic methods are still used to craft chocolate, honey, creams, and distilled herbal liqueurs, including the famed Gin Dry Vallombrosa, celebrated for its aromatic properties.
