Manzi: Forest Trails, Roman Traces and Chestnut Cuisine

Manzi, in the municipality of Caprese Michelangelo, combines forest activities, the history of Roman roads, art and chestnut cuisine. If you are considering a rural alternative to a stay in an art city in Tuscany, you will find an emphasis here on forests and landscapes, complemented by cultural and culinary interests within the municipality. When choosing where to stay, it helps to consider whether you want to plan your trip mainly around outdoor activities, art and history, or regional food culture.

Forest trails and outdoor activities from Manzi

Walks and mountain bike trips through the forests can start directly in Manzi and in other main settlements in the municipality of Caprese Michelangelo. This offers two different ways to get active as a possible focus: a tour on foot or by mountain bike. Check the conditions of individual trails locally. If forest outings are an important part of your trip, the option of starting directly in Manzi is a practical factor to consider when choosing where to stay. Cultural and culinary interests within the municipality offer further options if your travel group wants to bring together different interests.

Landscape and traces of Roman roads

The area of the municipality of Caprese Michelangelo rises to over 1,400 metres in the Alpe di Catenaia. Numerous streams flow into the Singerna, which then flows into Lago di Montedoglio. Nearby is the Poggio Rosso state nature reserve, with exposed rocks and sparse vegetation along the Singerna and beside the Fungaia hill. These open, rocky landscape features offer a different perspective from the forests crossed by hiking and mountain bike routes.

In Gamboli, near Manzi, a path follows still-visible paving from the ancient Roman Via Ariminiensis towards Poggio Rosso. The visible paving gives the history of the road a tangible connection to the area. For travellers interested in both landscape and history, two themes come together here: the protected natural environment at Poggio Rosso and the traces of the Roman road at Gamboli.

Art in the municipality

In the municipality of Caprese Michelangelo, the Museo Casa Natale Michelangelo Buonarroti displays a 15th-century triptych by Giuliano Amidei as well as plaster casts of Michelangelo's sculptures. The triptych and the casts offer different points of interest in art history: one is a work from the 15th century, while the others depict Michelangelo's sculptures in plaster. This makes it possible to combine an interest in art with the area's landscape and history, without planning the trip around just one kind of outing.

Chestnuts and seasonal cuisine

Marrone di Caprese Michelangelo DOP can be eaten roasted, boiled or candied. At the Festa del Marrone in Caprese Michelangelo, visitors can sample and buy roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, doughnuts, jams and sweet chestnut polenta on the last two weekends of October. Check the exact festival dates for your intended travel year.

At La Casina in the hamlet of Manzi, the culinary profile centres on home cooking using produce from the restaurant's own garden and products from the immediate area. Seasonal offerings include dinners in the forest in summer and chestnut meals in October and November. Check the business details, dates and availability before visiting. This provides several ways to experience regional food culture: the ways of preparing the DOP product, the festival offerings and the seasonal meals at La Casina.

Getting around for your trip

Regional bus route CPR1 connects Manzi with, among other places, Caprese Michelangelo, San Polo and Talozzi. If you plan to use this connection during your trip, check the latest departure times before travelling. Along with the option to start hiking and mountain biking directly in Manzi, the bus connection is another practical factor to consider when choosing where to stay.

Discover more destinations: Le Ville, Rigo, Monte San Savino, Montevarchi, Oliveto, Monterchi, Tregozzano, Pian Di Sco.

For the wider travel overview: Arezzo.