Castelfranco Di Sopra: Tower, Churches and Balze

Between Gates, Churches and Distinctive Landscapes

Castelfranco di Sopra offers several starting points for a trip focused on culture and landscapes within a compact thematic area. The Torre d'Arnolfo, historic churches, the characteristic Balze del Valdarno and recurring events present the town from different angles. This means that, rather than an interchangeable stopover, you have a selection of clearly distinguishable impressions.

The Torre d'Arnolfo as a Landmark

The Torre d'Arnolfo is the tower of the Porta Campana and is also called Torre Fiorentina or Torre dell'Orologio. A Florentine lily and the year 1300 are carved into the tower. At the same time, it is the most visible surviving part of the former castle of Castelfranco and is considered a landmark of the town. The Torre d'Arnolfo can be climbed. From the top, elevated views extend over Castelfranco, the foothills of the Apennines and the Balze. This means that the building combines the historic character of the town with a view of the surrounding landscape formations. Anyone wishing to structure their stay primarily around a distinctive cultural feature will find a clearly identifiable starting point here.

Churches with Romanesque, Baroque and Florentine Traces

The original Romanesque Chiesa S. Tommaso a Castelfranco already existed during the construction of the “Castello Franco” in 1299. It has a 15th-century pronaos with octagonal stone columns and Corinthian capitals; this porch was reconstructed in 1775. The church contains Florentine paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, including works from the former convent of the Augustinian nuns of Castelfranco. Another art-historical site is the Chiesa di San Filippo Neri. It preserves works from the Florentine workshop of Andrea del Sarto and by Matteo Rosselli. The Badia di San Salvatore a Soffena was built in the 11th century on the ruins of an ancient castle. Together, these three churches reveal different historical layers, without their significance being limited to a single period.

Balze and Route

Le Balze del Valdarno, also known as Smotte, are a characteristic geotope made up of layered sands, clays and gravels. The formations reach heights of up to 100 metres, display a variety of shapes and are cut through by deep ravines. They create a distinct landscape accent alongside the churches and the tower. After leaving Castelfranco di Sopra, the Sentiero dell'Acqua Zolfina follows the Borro delle Fossate to Botriolo and then continues along an unpaved road in the direction of Riguzze.

Events Throughout the Year

In June, on the day of Corpus Christi, the Infiorata decorates the main streets of Castelfranco di Sopra with flowers. A theatre season is held regularly at the Teatro Capodaglio. The Premio Nazionale di Teatro Wanda Capodaglio, a recurring national theatre competition, is also held there. These events complement the permanently named landmarks with cultural occasions tied to specific times of the year. If you would like to consider other destinations for your travel plans in addition to Castelfranco Di Sopra, you can also find Lonnano (Lonnano), Monterchi (Monterchi), Chitignano (Chitignano), Cavriglia (Cavriglia), Pratovecchio (Pratovecchio), Pieve al Toppo (Pieve al Toppo), Toppole (Toppole) and Montagnano (Montagnano).

For the higher-level travel overview: Arezzo.