The Pratomagno

Dominating the eastern side of the Arno valley are the peaks of the Pratomagno, meaning literally the Great Meadow, which it was until recent re-forestation of the area caused by rural depopulation. Even now cattle graze the common grasslands in summer while the mountainous forests contain wolves, deer and wild boar.

This isn't the rolling hills of southern Tuscany or the steep hills and picturesque wine making valleys of Chianti, this is a mountain range in its own right and goes through all the stages of land use from the Arno river, up to the tree lines at the highest peaks.

The highest peak, the Cross of the Pratomagno, reaches 1592 metres (5,220 feet) while the range contains a numer of peaks, the photo above was taken from the Poggio Uomo di Sasso looking north towards Mount Secchieta and the direction of Vallombrosa monastery on a winter's afternoon. Vallombrosa Monastery, founded in the 11th century and once a powerful institution wielding considerable secular power in the middle ages, is lower down the mountain from Secchieta, at 1000 meters above sea, while the name 'Vallombrosa' means a shaded place.

Not surprisingly Florentines flock to Vallombrosa and nearby Saltino in the hot summer months to enjoy the cool mountain breezes, while Milton visited Vallombrosa and was much taken by the woodlands and landscape, so much so he wrote of Vallombrosa in Paradise Lost. The Pratomagno is made up of beech and fir woodland close to the peak, then descends to oak woodland, typical to much of Tuscany, and from 600 meters altitude farmland starts in the form of olive farms and fruit orchards while lower down still are vineyards that make Chianti Rufina and Colle Aretini.

The mountain towns of Pelago and Regello, linked by a belt of olive groves between 4-600m, produce lively olive oil famous throughout Tuscany.

Usefull Links for the Valdarno:

Valdarno Online Events and accommodation in the Val d'arno (Sito Italiano).

Comune di Figline Valdarno - Homepage of the Figline Valdarno Comune - (Sito Italiano)

Tuscany Travel - The Valdarno (in English)

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