Ronta – Hiking Trails, Churches and History in Tuscany

Ronta offers a combination of countryside paths, sacred art and traces of history. The village has a railway station, making it a clearly identifiable starting point for a trip in which hiking and culture need not be considered separately. Ronta’s attractions include Villa Gerini; at the same time, paths lead from here to the Apennine ridge and into the SO.F.T. hiking network.

Paths to the Apennine ridge and through chestnut groves

Paths lead from Ronta to the Apennine ridge. In addition, routes in the SO.F.T. hiking network are part of the local hiking options, including circular route 17. This designation makes the choice more specific without limiting the paths to a single type of route. Another documented connection runs from the Colla di Casaglia Pass to Ronta. The paths pass through chestnut groves and are suitable for trekking. This gives you a landscape-defined approach to the village: the route does not come only from an abstract mountain region, but crosses the pass and runs through the chestnut groves to Ronta. Those who place equal value on hiking and culture when choosing a place to stay will therefore find two distinct, clearly defined focal points here: paths towards the Apennine ridge and the connection from the Colla di Casaglia Pass.

Churches and historical traces

The churches also give Ronta and the places mentioned a distinctive character. The Chiesa di San Michele a Ronta has a Baroque floor plan. The Chiesa Vecchia is Ronta’s original church. During restoration work, remains of walls with Etruscan features were discovered there— a detail that adds a significantly older trace to the building’s history. In Pulicciano, the church of Santa Maria was once part of a strategic fortress. It houses a polychrome terracotta group depicting the Lamentation of Christ, attributed to the workshop of Benedetto Buglioni. Beneath Pulicciano’s church square there is also a Roman cistern, visible through an opening in the wall. These individual testimonies represent different historical layers: the church’s former military function, the attributed terracotta group and the Roman cistern beneath the square.

Oratory and local tradition

Just outside the village of Ronta stands the Oratorio della Madonna dei Tre Fiumi. It became a pilgrimage destination visited by believers and visitors from Mugello and Romagna. In 1633, the Oratorio was extended with two side aisles, a portico on the façade and a small refectory. Its architectural development can therefore be traced through a precise date and specific additions. The Antico mulino Margheri is also part of the local character: chestnuts are ground there in September. This seasonal process complements the paths through the chestnut groves with an insight into how the fruit is processed. If you would like to explore further destinations for your Tuscany research in addition to Ronta, you can also find Grezzano, Sagginale, Luco Mugello, Gricignano and Faltona.

For the broader travel overview: Borgo San Lorenzo.