Reggello: Art, Vallombrosa and Olive Culture in Tuscany

Reggello presents Tuscany through several distinct facets: important art, sacred history, expansive woodland landscapes and an olive-growing culture dating back to the Middle Ages. If you would like to combine different interests on your trip, you will find both specific museum experiences and nature and landscape themes with their own distinctive character here.

Art and Sacred History

A particular point of reference is the Museo Masaccio di Arte Sacra. It preserves the Trittico di San Giovenale, which bears the date of completion, 23 April 1422. It is considered the first known work by the young Masaccio. The museum also displays paintings from Florentine art, silverwork, ecclesiastical objects, and a collection of precious liturgical vestments dating from the 15th to the 20th century. The perspective therefore extends beyond a single work of art and encompasses several centuries of religious and artistic furnishings. The Pieve di San Pietro a Cascia is part of the area’s older architectural and sacred history. It was built at the behest of Countess Matilde di Canossa between the 10th and 11th centuries and is a well-preserved example of Romanesque architecture. Another focal point is the Museo d'Arte Sacra dell’Abbazia di Vallombrosa, with paintings, sculptures, old books, illuminated codices and liturgical objects. The works mentioned include the Parato Altoviti and an altarpiece by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his workshop. The large cloister, the sacristy and the tower of the Abbazia di Vallombrosa date from the 15th century.

Vallombrosa Between Forest and Botany

The Foresta di Vallombrosa covers 1,279 hectares and lies at an altitude between 450 and 1,450 metres. For a specific walk, the Anello dei Giganti trail leads on foot to a 62.45-metre-tall Douglas fir and a second tree measuring 59.83 metres in height. The Arboreti Sperimentali di Vallombrosa add a botanical perspective to this natural setting: they comprise more than 3,000 specimens from over 1,000 botanical units and 85 genera from different parts of the world. The Castello di Sammezzano in Reggello combines Arabesque and Indian elements, forms inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, and symbols of Freemasonry. An important restriction for your planning is that the castle is currently closed to the public.

Olive Landscapes and Regional Tradition

The hilly landscape around Reggello also shapes the character of the area. Terraces laid out with vineyards and olive groves since the 14th century define this cultural landscape; this is where Reggello Toscano extra virgin olive oil is produced. The Rassegna dell'Olio Extravergine d'Oliva di Reggello offers a direct seasonal connection. It takes place every year in late October and early November and features stalls run by local producers as well as public tastings. For further places to explore, see Donnini, Cancelli, Tallini, Fornaci Incisa, San Donato Fronzano, Vallombrosa, Sant'ellero and Tosi.

For the broader travel overview: Florence.