Poggio Alla Croce – Hiking, Cultural Heritage and Paths of Remembrance

Poggio Alla Croce combines circular routes of varying lengths with historic sites, woodland landscapes and paths of remembrance. The selection ranges from an easy tour lasting about an hour to a 21-kilometre circular route of moderate difficulty. There are also routes leading to a parish church, a castle, an ancient abbey and visible monastic ruins. This makes it possible to tailor a stay in the Tuscan landscape to individual interests and the desired pace of hiking.

Circular routes for different day plans

The Anello Poggio Citerna begins and ends in Poggio alla Croce. At 2.3 kilometres long, with an easy difficulty level and a duration of about one hour, it offers a clearly manageable route. The Anello San Polo and the Anello Poggio alla Croce – Monte Scalari also begin and end in Poggio alla Croce. The Anello San Polo is 21 kilometres long and has a moderate difficulty level. The Anello Poggio alla Croce – Monte Scalari expands the choice of routes with views over the Valdarno and Chianti. Each route begins and ends in Poggio alla Croce.

Churches, castles and monastic history along the way

The Anello San Polo leads to the Pieve di San Miniato a Rubbiana, whose origins date back to 1077. Via CAI Trail No. 23, the Anello Celle reaches the Castello di Celle. The Badia Montescalari, a Vallombrosian abbey from the first decades of the 11th century, is located along the same route. The Anello Poggio Citerna also connects the landscape with visible traces of earlier history. At Poggio Citerna, it passes the ruins of a convent for women from the 13th century. These destinations distinguish the routes from one another: depending on the route, the focus is on a parish church, a castle, an abbey or the ruins of a monastery.

Woodland, views and remembrance

The Anello Pian d’Albero passes through chestnut woods and reaches a viewing terrace overlooking the upper Valdarno and Pratomagno. At the same time, this route has a historical dimension. At Pian d’Albero, it passes a memorial stone commemorating a Nazi-Fascist massacre on 20 June 1944 in which 37 people lost their lives. The Sentiero della Memoria also addresses this history. It begins in Poggio alla Croce and traces the history of the Sinigaglia Brigade and the Pian d’Albero massacre. The route complements the natural and architectural sights with an explicitly commemorative focus. The local events calendar included an evening with Italo Baldini on Wednesday, 24 July, in Piazza del Giaggiolo in Poggio alla Croce. As part of the 23rd edition of “Estate al Poggio”, the theme “Poggio alla Croce nella prima metà del ’900” was at the centre of the event. The event was overseen by the Comune di Greve in Chianti and organised by the S.M.S. Poggio alla Croce.

To the main travel overview: Incisa In Val D'arno.