From Arezzo, heading south, the Aretine Valdichiana opens up between agricultural plains and hills, along the Canale Maestro della Chiana. The main towns are Civitella in Val di Chiana, Monte San Savino, Lucignano, Foiano della Chiana, Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona, the natural gateway to Lake Trasimeno.
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, heading south, the Aretine Valdichiana is easily reached along the SR71, which crosses the valley floor towards Castiglion Fiorentino, Camucia and Cortona, up to the borders with Umbria and Lake Trasimeno.
In parallel, the A1 Motorway (Autostrada del Sole) runs along the western edge of the valley, with the Arezzo exit for the northern part and Monte San Savino for the southern part.
Average travel times (normal traffic)
Arezzo > Monte San Savino: about 20 minutes (25 km)
Arezzo > Lucignano: about 30 minutes (30 km)
Arezzo > Foiano della Chiana: about 35 minutes (33 km)
Arezzo > Castiglion Fiorentino: about 20 minutes (17 km)
Arezzo > Cortona (Camucia): about 35–40 minutes (35 km)
Cortona > Lake Trasimeno (Tuoro / Castiglione del Lago): about 25 minutes (20 km)
Foiano della Chiana > Montepulciano: about 25 minutes (22 km)
Monte San Savino > Rapolano Terme: about 25 minutes (23 km)
SCENIC AND TOURIST CONNECTIONS
From the valley floor, several scenic roads branch off to connect the hilltop villages and surrounding areas:
– from Civitella in Val di Chiana you head towards the Val d’Ambra, with connections to Bucine, Rapolano Terme and Siena;
– from Monte San Savino and Lucignano you reach the Crete Senesi, Rapolano Terme and Siena;
– from Foiano della Chiana continue towards Montepulciano and the Val d’Orcia;
– from Cortona head towards Terontola, Lake Trasimeno and Perugia
EQUIPPED AREAS FOR CAMPER VANS
– Civitella in Val di Chiana (Badia al Pino) – municipal area: 8 spaces, water supply/drain, lighting.
– Monte San Savino – via Fiorentina: 10 spaces, water supply/drain, electrical hookups.
– Lucignano – via della Circonvallazione: 6 spaces, free area, water supply/drain
– Foiano della Chiana – via Civitella: 8 spaces, electrical hookups.
– Cortona – “Parterre” camper area, viale Passerini: 20 spaces, water supply/drain, electricity, toilets.
Train
The Aretine Valdichiana is served by two railway lines that connect Arezzo with the main centres of the valley and with the routes towards Rome, Florence, Siena and Umbria.
Florence–Rome line (Trenitalia)
The main line crossing Valdichiana, it connects Arezzo with the larger towns and with the Umbrian rail hub of Trasimeno.
MAIN STATIONS:
– Arezzo
– Castiglion Fiorentino
– Camucia-Cortona
– Terontola-Cortona (junction for the Trasimeno line and for Umbria)
Average travel times
– Arezzo > Castiglion Fiorentino: about 15 minutes
– Arezzo > Camucia-Cortona: about 25 minutes
– Arezzo > Terontola: about 30 minutes
From Terontola-Cortona rail connections depart towards Perugia, Assisi, Foligno and Terni, along the regional line Terontola–Foligno, in addition to local trains to the towns around Lake Trasimeno (Tuoro, Passignano, Magione, Castiglione del Lago).
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.
Arezzo–Sinalunga line (TFT – Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano)
Regional line connecting Arezzo with the towns of Valdichiana, and then continuing towards the Siena area.
MAIN STATIONS:
– Arezzo
– Civitella–Badia al Pino
– Albergo
– Monte San Savino
– Lucignano–Marciano–Pozzo
– Foiano della Chiana
– Sinalunga
Average travel times
– Arezzo > Monte San Savino: about 25 minutes
– Arezzo > Foiano della Chiana: about 35 minutes
– Arezzo > Sinalunga (terminus): about 45 minutes
Information, timetables and tickets are available on the TFT website
TRAIN + BIKE
On the regional lines Florence–Arezzo–Rome, Arezzo–Chiusi of Trenitalia it is possible to 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).
A classic itinerary starts from Arezzo with Trenitalia towards Chiusi, taking the bike on board. Once you arrive, you return by cycling along the Sentiero della Bonifica back to Arezzo. This is a completely protected compacted-earth shared path, about 62 km long, flat and immersed in nature, among cultivated fields, bridges and historic hydraulic houses. It can also be done in reverse, cycling to Chiusi and returning by train to Arezzo.
For more details on bike transport see the Trenitalia website
On the Arezzo-Sinalunga line operated by TFT (Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano) you can take your bicycle on board.
– The service is allowed on trains equipped with specific racks, within the limit of available spaces.
– The service requires payment of a fixed-fare ticket, equal to the cost of a single journey for the 10 km band, regardless of the distance actually travelled.
– Folding bikes may travel free of charge as hand luggage.
– Groups of at least 10 people with bicycles must submit a request to the TFT Management at least 7 days in advance.
For more details on bike transport see the TFT website
Bus
The intercity service in the Aretine Valdichiana is managed by Autolinee Toscane and connects Arezzo with the main centres of the valley and with the rail hubs of southern Tuscany and Umbria.
MAIN CONNECTIONS
– Arezzo > Castiglion Fiorentino > Camucia > Cortona
Line LS6, along the SR71, the main valley-floor route.
Connects the centres of the eastern Valdichiana with the provincial capital and the railway stations.
Average travel time: Arezzo – Cortona about 1 hour.
– Arezzo > Monte San Savino > Lucignano > Foiano della Chiana > Sinalunga
Line H22, which crosses the western Valdichiana and serves the centres connected to the Arezzo–Sinalunga (TFT) railway line.
Average travel time: Arezzo-Sinalunga about 1 hour 10 minutes.
– Cortona > Terontola > Lake Trasimeno (Tuoro, Passignano, Castiglione del Lago)
Lines SU4 and SU5, which connect Cortona and Camucia with the rail junction of Terontola and the Umbrian towns around Lake Trasimeno.
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 Aretine Valdichiana is crossed by routes that combine art, spirituality and nature, linking the historic villages of the valley with the major Tuscan and Umbrian itineraries.
Among the main routes are the Cammino di Francesco, the Via Lauretana and the Via Romea Germanica, which cross the Cortona and Arezzo areas offering walking experiences through history, landscapes and faith.
CAMMINI DI FRANCESCO
The route crosses the valley along the axis Anghiari – Arezzo – Castiglion Fiorentino – Cortona – Eremo Le Celle, then continues into Umbria towards Assisi. The route alternates hill paths and gravel roads, passing parish churches, convents and rural landscapes typical of the Arezzo and Cortona countryside. Between Arezzo and Cortona it partly shares the route with the Via Romea Germanica, following the gentle hills of the Valdichiana and offering panoramic views among olive groves and villages.
For information, maps and official tracks:
VIA LAURETANA
Ancient pilgrimage route that connected Rome to the Sanctuary of Loreto, the Via Lauretana Toscana is a route linking Siena to Cortona, crossing the Crete Senesi, the hills of the Sienese and Aretine Val di Chiana and the towns of Asciano, Sinalunga, Foiano and Cortona, where it connects to the Umbrian routes towards Assisi and Loreto. The Cortona section, set among olive groves and farmhouses, is one of the most evocative and best preserved, ideal on foot or by bicycle to discover the rural landscapes and agricultural traditions of the valley.
For information, maps and official tracks:
VIA ROMEA GERMANICA
Ancient European pilgrimage route that connects Northern Europe to Rome. It enters Tuscany via the Passo di Serra and descends into the Valle Santa of Casentino, touching La Verna before continuing to Arezzo. After Arezzo, the route runs through the Valdichiana along the hills, from Sassaia to Castiglion Fiorentino, Montecchio Vesponi and Cortona, where it partly coincides with the Cammino di Francesco. From Cortona it continues towards Castiglion del Lago in Umbria, passes Orvieto and ends in Rome, along a journey of faith and landscape that unites European tradition with the spiritual heart of Italy.
For information, maps and official tracks:
Cycle routes and shared-use paths
The Aretine Valdichiana is ideal for cycle tourism and gentle mobility: flat roads, routes immersed in the countryside and easily reachable villages make this valley perfect for getting around by bike or on foot.
SENTIERO DELLA BONIFICA
This is the main cycle and pedestrian route of the Valdichiana. It connects Arezzo to Chiusi along the Canale Maestro della Chiana for about 62 km, crossing a rural landscape of great historical and natural value.
The surface is compacted dirt and well signposted, with rest points, picnic areas and fountains along the route.
The route is flat and suitable for everyone, ideal also for e-bikes and trekking.
Main access points in the Aretine section: Arezzo (Ponte a Chiani), Frassineto, Cesa, Brolio, Foiano della Chiana
For more information visit the dedicated page on this site click here
OTHER CYCLE TOURING ITINERARIES
– Castiglion Fiorentino – Cortona: about 12 km, scenic route among the hills and vineyards of the Valdichiana.
– Lucignano loop: about 10 km, hill itinerary on gravel and secondary roads.
– Cortona – Lake Trasimeno: about 20 km, on provincial roads and flat sections with wide views over the valley.
– Foiano della Chiana – Montepulciano: about 22 km, route on country roads and hills, which can be linked to the Sentiero della Bonifica.
