Cancelli: Santa Margherita, Balze and Forest Trails

Cancelli offers two different ways to experience a stay in Tuscany: sacred art and history in Santa Margherita a Cancelli, as well as landscape experiences at the Balze and on the trails in the surrounding area.

Santa Margherita a Cancelli: Art and Sacred History

Santa Margherita a Cancelli was one of the suffragan churches of the Plebato of San Pietro a Cascia. The single-nave interior has two chapels as well as the Compagnia chapel, known as the “Tinaia.” This means that the building can be appreciated not only through its exterior appearance, but also through its clearly structured interior furnishings. Notable details include a positive organ dating from 1697. It is one of the oldest in the Diocese of Fiesole. The chapel of the Compagnia del Corpus Domini also contains a fresco depicting the Crucifixion and saints, dating from 1516. The work recalls the painting of Andrea Del Sarto. The two dates refer to different furnishings: 1697 to the positive organ and 1516 to the fresco.

The Balze: Layered Landscape and Protected Nature

The landscape counterpart lies in the Balze. The Area Naturale Protetta delle Balze is included in the regional list of protected areas as a local nature conservation area. In the surroundings of Cancelli, the Balze consist of layers of sand, clay and gravel. Their steep vertical walls reach heights of up to approximately 100 m, along with deep ravines. These geological formations can be viewed up close along the Sentiero R24. The Sentiero R24 runs along the Fosso di Cetina and passes by the Balze. The trail is 4,200 m long; the stated walking time is 02:45. The Sentiero R24A offers a different trail experience: it is accessible exclusively on foot and leads through a mixed forest of downy oak, Turkey oak and holm oak.

Trails Towards Vallombrosa

The surroundings of Cancelli also lead into a forest landscape with a stronger cultural and historical character. A well-signposted circular trail, just under 5 km long, passes through forest chapels in the Foresta di Vallombrosa, which are connected with the places where Saint Giovanni Gualberto lived. In Vallombrosa, another trail includes the Scala Santa and continues to the Paradisino. This building served hermit monks; from its terrace, there is a beautiful view over the valley. The Strada comunale della Castellina is also relevant for orientation in the area: it connects Cancelli with Montanino. The Sentiero R24 reaches Pian di Tegna at this road. For further comparisons with nearby places, you can also view [San Donato Fronzano](San Donato Fronzano), [Donnini](Donnini), [Fornaci Incisa](Fornaci Incisa), [Vallombrosa](Vallombrosa), [Tosi](Tosi), [Tallini](Tallini) and [Sant'ellero](Sant'ellero) .

For the higher-level travel overview: Reggello.