Northwest of Arezzo lies the Aretine Valdarno, the valley of the Arno between Pratomagno and the Chianti hills. It is a fertile, well-connected area, crossed by scenic roads and main arteries that link the Arezzo plain with Florence, the Val d’Ambra and the Sienese side, touching towns such as Laterina, Montevarchi, San Giovanni Valdarno, Loro Ciuffenna, Castelfranco di Sopra and Bucine.
Here is an overview map to help you orient yourself and better understand the geography of the area, the places, points of interest and routes.
Car, motorbike and camper
From Arezzo you enter the Valdarno along three main routes:
– SS69 di Val d’Arno
This is the most direct route: it descends from Indicatore along the Arno, passing through Ponticino, Laterina, Levane, Montevarchi and San Giovanni Valdarno, up to the Florentine side of the valley. From Levane you can turn off for Bucine and access the Val d’Ambra.
It is the reference road for daily and tourist connections, with access to the main towns and the railway network.
– Strada dei Setteponti (SP1)
A scenic route that follows the upper course of the Arno through the hill country, from Ponte Buriano and Castiglion Fibocchi to Loro Ciuffenna, Piandiscò and Castelfranco di Sopra, at the foot of Pratomagno.
The route crosses farmland, olive groves and small villages, offering splendid views over the valley and numerous turn-offs to upland settlements.
– A1 Motorway – Autostrada del Sole
It runs along the western edge of the valley, skirting the Arno and linking Arezzo with Florence and Rome.
The Valdarno exit (Montevarchi – Terranuova – San Giovanni) serves the central part of the valley; the Incisa-Reggello exit provides easy access to Florence and Chianti; while to the south, the Arezzo exit quickly connects with the Valdambra and Siena.
Average travel times
– Arezzo > Ponticino / Laterina: 20–25 minutes (15–18 km)
– Arezzo > San Giovanni Valdarno: 30–35 minutes (28–32 km)
– Arezzo > Montevarchi / Terranuova Bracciolini: 35–40 minutes (35–38 km)
– Arezzo > Castiglion Fibocchi: about 15–20 minutes (12–15 km)
– Arezzo > Loro Ciuffenna: 40–45 minutes (35–40 km)
– Arezzo > Castelfranco di Sopra: about 45–50 minutes (38–42 km)
– Arezzo > Bucine (Val d’Ambra): 30–35 minutes (25–30 km)
SCENIC AND TOURIST CONNECTIONS
– from Ponte Buriano, Castiglion Fibocchi and Laterina you can access the Ponte Buriano e Penna Nature Reserve, a protected area following the curves of the Arno and preserving a river environment of great natural value
– from Loro Ciuffenna you climb towards Pratomagno, up to the Croce del Pratomagno and the mountain villages;
– from Bucine, along the SP540 Valdambra, you reach Badia Agnano and the landscapes of the Sienese Chianti and Siena;
– from Cavriglia you enter the Aretine Chianti, among vineyards and nature reserves;
– from Castelfranco di Sopra and Piantravigne you access the Balze del Valdarno, spectacular geological formations of sand, clay and pebbles forming eroded walls, pinnacles and gorges between Pratomagno and the Arno;
– from Terranuova Bracciolini you reach the Valle dell’Inferno and Bandella Nature Reserve, along the bends of the Arno.
EQUIPPED AREAS FOR CAMPER VANS
– San Giovanni Valdarno – Via A. Gramsci: 10 spaces, lighting, asphalt surface, a short walk from the historic centre.
– Montevarchi – Sports facilities area (P.le Salvador Allende): 12 spaces, water supply/drain, lighting, free parking.
– Laterina Pergine Valdarno – Municipal area: 8 spaces, water supply/drain, electrical hookups, lighting, near the station.
– Loro Ciuffenna – Municipal area near the centre: 6 spaces, water supply/drain, electrical hookups, asphalt parking.
– Cavriglia – Santa Barbara locality: 10 spaces, panoramic area, water supply/drain, electrical hookups.
– Bucine (Val d’Ambra) – Via del Molino: 8 spaces, water supply/drain, lighting, free parking.
Train
The Aretine Valdarno is crossed by the Florence–Arezzo–Rome railway line, one of the main rail spines of central Italy.
The line offers numerous daily regional, Intercity and long-distance services, with short travel times and high frequency.
MAIN STATIONS OF THE ARETINE VALDARNO
– Ponticino–Laterina
– Bucine
– Montevarchi–Terranuova
– San Giovanni Valdarno
Average travel times (regional trains)
– Arezzo > Ponticino / Laterina: about 15 minutes
– Arezzo > Montevarchi / Terranuova: about 25 minutes
– Arezzo > San Giovanni Valdarno: about 30 minutes
– Arezzo > Firenze S. M. Novella: between 60 and 70 minutes (direct regional services)
The Valdarno stations are served by Trenitalia (Regionale and Regionale Veloce lines), with services roughly every 30–60 minutes in both directions.
Information, timetables and tickets are available on the Trenitalia website
Or via the Trenitalia app
The Trenitalia app lets you plan train journeys and purchase tickets from your smartphone. It provides real-time information on timetables, platforms, departures, arrivals and delays, with notifications about any service changes.
TRAIN + BIKE
On the regional Florence–Arezzo–Rome line operated by Trenitalia you can take your bicycle on board trains equipped with dedicated spaces (recognisable by the bike icon in the official timetables).
– Folding bikes travel free of charge as hand luggage;
– Standard bicycles are allowed with a daily bike supplement or a monthly bike pass, to be shown together with the ticket;
– access is permitted in the specific coaches marked with the bike symbol;
– the number of bike spaces is limited (check before departure).
Trains running in the Valdarno are mainly Jazz, Pop and Rock, new-generation models equipped with a bike area and low floors, therefore convenient for cycle tourists.
Further details and permitted trains can be found on the Trenitalia website
Bus
The Aretine Valdarno is connected to Arezzo and nearby localities by a network of intercity bus lines that run the length of the valley, linking the valley floor with the hilltop towns and the main railway stations.
The service is operated by Autolinee Toscane, with daily connections to the main towns, industrial areas and school zones.
MAIN CONNECTIONS
– Arezzo > Ponticino > Levane > Montevarchi > San Giovanni Valdarno
Valley-floor line following the SR69 axis, with regular departures from Arezzo and intermediate stops in all major towns.
Average travel times:
– Arezzo > Ponticino: about 30 minutes
– Arezzo > Montevarchi: about 1 hour
– Arezzo > San Giovanni Valdarno: about 1 hour 15 minutes
– Arezzo > Loro Ciuffenna > Castelfranco di Sopra
Service to the hill towns along the Strada dei Setteponti, operating on weekdays, useful for excursions to Pratomagno and the Balze del Valdarno.
– Montevarchi > Cavriglia > Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni
Local service connecting residential and industrial areas of the lower Valdarno, with regular weekday frequency.
Up-to-date timetables and information on the Autolinee Toscane website
Or via the AT-Bus app
The AT Bus app lets you plan bus journeys and purchase tickets from your smartphone. It provides real-time information on timetables, connections, stop times and the position of vehicles along urban and interurban routes.
On foot
The Valdarno offers numerous itineraries for hikers and pilgrims, amid nature, history and spirituality. From the Pratomagno hills to the nature reserves along the Arno, the valley is crossed by historic routes and scenic paths that link villages, parish churches and landscapes shaped over the centuries by water and time.
VIA ROMEA GERMANICA IMPERIALE
A long-distance route connecting Trento to Arezzo, the final stage of the itinerary, crossing the heart of eastern Tuscany. In the Valdarno it follows ancient rural tracks and gravel roads between Castelfranco di Sopra, Loro Ciuffenna and Laterina, touching villages, Romanesque parish churches and the evocative landscapes of the Balze. Partly already signposted and passable in both directions, the route offers stages of great natural and cultural interest, with rest areas and accommodation welcoming walkers and cyclists along the way. It represents the last Tuscan section of the route that crosses central Italy up to Arezzo, where it meets the Via Romea Germanica and the Franciscan ways heading towards the Valdichiana and then Rome or Assisi.
For information, maps and official tracks:
GERDA (Grande Escursione Riva Destra Arno)
A nature trail that follows the course of the Arno in its Aretine stretch, linking Ponte Buriano, Castiglion Fibocchi, Laterina and Rondine to the Penna dam, within the Ponte Buriano e Penna Nature Reserve. The route runs through woodlands, riverbanks and wetlands of great environmental value, offering panoramic viewpoints and ideal areas for birdwatching. The GERDA route connects with other local hiking paths, forming a network of trails that links the main protected areas along the middle Arno.
For information, maps and official tracks:
SENTIERO DELL’ACQUA ZOLFINA (Balze del Valdarno)
A marked CAI loop starting from Castelfranco di Sopra. The path crosses the village of Piantravigne and the area of the spectacular Balze del Valdarno, among gullies, woods and natural springs from which it takes its name. The route is easy to walk and offers unique views of the valley’s erosive landscape—ideal for day hikes and photo walks.
For information, maps and official tracks:
PRATOMAGNO RIDGE
The Pratomagno ridge extends for about 37 km, from the Passo della Consuma to the Valico di Crocina, along the CAI Trail 00 which separates the Valdarno from the Casentino. It is one of the most panoramic hiking routes in Tuscany, with views ranging from the Apennines to Chianti.
The trails on the Valdarno side are well signposted by the CAI and can be followed independently or with local hiking guides.
– Loro Ciuffenna / Croce del Pratomagno: about 14 km, 4 hours 30 minutes, elevation gain 950 m. From the village the route climbs up the Ciuffenna stream, passing Anciolina and Monte Lori, to the ridge and the Cross.
– La Trappola / Croce del Pratomagno: about 13 km, 4 hours, elevation gain 750 m. CAI trail 22 crosses woods and clearings up to the ridge and CAI 00.
– Rocca Ricciarda / Croce del Pratomagno: about 5 km, 2 hours, elevation gain 800 m. A short route but with a demanding ascent, through chestnut woods and high pastures up to the ridge.
– Gorgiti / Croce del Pratomagno: about 10 km, 3 hours 30 minutes, elevation gain 700 m. A panoramic woodland route that joins CAI 00 near Monte Secchieta.
– Pian dei Lavacchi / Croce del Pratomagno: about 7.5 km, 3 hours, elevation gain 370 m. A simple, scenic itinerary from the upper Valdarno side, suitable even for less experienced walkers.
– Anciolina / Croce del Pratomagno: about 7.5 km, 2 hours 45 minutes, elevation gain 600 m. A regular, accessible route along the ridge between Monte Lori and the Cross, with wide views over the Valdarno and Casentino.
For information, maps and official tracks:
Cycle routes and shared-use paths
The Valdarno is crossed by a network of cycle routes that follow the course of the Arno and link natural areas with the main towns.
Ciclovia dell’Arno
In the Aretine section the Ciclovia dell’Arno is partly completed and passable: from Pieve a Sietina to Ponte Buriano, continuing along the riverbanks towards Laterina, Levane and the Valle dell’Inferno e Bandella Nature Reserve. The route alternates paved and unpaved sections, with rest areas, viewpoints and links to the valley-floor towns. In the upper Valdarno, towards Montevarchi, Terranuova Bracciolini and Figline–Incisa, some completed and open sections already integrate with the local network Valdarno Bike Road.
Sentiero della Bonifica
From Ponte Buriano, a connecting shared-use path leads to the Chiusa dei Monaci, the starting point of the Sentiero della Bonifica, which runs down the Valdichiana to Chiusi. This link allows you to move from the Ciclovia dell’Arno to the Sentiero della Bonifica, crossing much of the Arezzo area by bike or on foot between waterways and agricultural landscapes.
Valdarno Bike Road and Strada dei Setteponti
A network of secondary roads and cycle sections connects Castiglion Fibocchi, Loro Ciuffenna and Castelfranco di Sopra along the panoramic Strada dei Setteponti, part of the Valdarno Bike Road project. The routes pass through villages, Romanesque parish churches and the spectacular Balze del Valdarno, with detours to the Pratomagno trails. Suitable for road bikes, e-bikes or gravel, they offer one of the most evocative and authentic stretches of the Tuscan landscape.
Loop of the Bandella Reserve and Il Borro
A mixed route on gravel and rural roads linking Laterina, the Valle dell’Inferno e Bandella Nature Reserve and the Il Borro estate. Ideal for mountain bikes and cycle touring, it offers striking views over the bends of the Arno and the hill landscape.
