East of Arezzo, the Tuscan Valtiberina unfolds along the upper course of the Tiber River, among hills and mountains that lead towards Umbria and Romagna. Towns such as Anghiari, Sansepolcro, Monterchi, Caprese Michelangelo and Pieve Santo Stefano preserve art, history and spirituality in an authentic landscape.
Here is an overview map to help you orient yourself and better understand the area’s geography, places, points of interest and routes.
Car, motorbike and camper
From Arezzo you can reach the valley quickly and easily:
– Main route: E78/SS73 “Due Mari”, a modern four-lane road that crosses the countryside of Le Ville and reaches Sansepolcro quickly and smoothly.
– Scenic route: SP43 della Libbia, which climbs towards Anghiari offering evocative views over the valley.
The E45 then connects the upper valley with Umbria, Romagna and the Adriatic coast, passing through Pieve Santo Stefano and Sansepolcro.
USEFUL CONNECTIONS AND SCENIC ROUTES
– from the valley, the E45 provides fast links to Città di Castello, Perugia to the south and Cesena and Ravenna to the north
– from Pieve Santo Stefano or Caprese Michelangelo you climb to the Santuario della Verna (about 25 km).
– from Anghiari you reach Arezzo and the Casentino crossing the Alpe di Catenaia, a scenic route through woods and small villages.
– from Badia Tedalda and Sestino, the SP258 Marecchiese continues towards Romagna and Montefeltro.
EQUIPPED AREAS FOR CAMPER VANS
– Anghiari – Via Campo alla Fiera: 12 spaces, water supply/drain, lighting.
– Sansepolcro – Via Divisione Garibaldi: 15 spaces, water supply/drain, electrical hookups, toilets.
– Monterchi – Municipal area: 8 spaces, water supply/drain, free parking.
– Caprese Michelangelo – “Poggio di Roti”: 10 spaces, water supply/drain, electrical hookups.
– Pieve Santo Stefano – Viale Michelangelo: 12 spaces, water supply/drain, lighting.
Bus
Public transport in the Valtiberina is managed by Autolinee Toscane and provides constant connections between Arezzo, the main towns in the valley and destinations in Umbria and Romagna.
MAIN CONNECTIONS
– Arezzo > Anghiari > Sansepolcro
Line H11, along the SS73, the valley’s main route.
Average time Arezzo – Sansepolcro: about 1 hour.
– Arezzo > Monterchi > Città di Castello (Umbria)
Line H13, linking the southern part of the valley with the Umbrian border.
Average time Arezzo – Monterchi: about 40 minutes;
Monterchi – Città di Castello: about 25 minutes.
– Sansepolcro > Pieve Santo Stefano > Bagno di Romagna (E45)
Line H15, connecting the upper valley with Romagna.
Average time Sansepolcro – Pieve Santo Stefano: about 30 minutes;
continuing to Bagno di Romagna: about 40 minutes.
– Sansepolcro > Caprese Michelangelo > La Verna
Seasonal school and tourist service to the sanctuaries of the Casentino.
Average time Sansepolcro – La Verna: about 50 minutes.
– Sansepolcro > Badia Tedalda > Sestino
Line SI393, connecting the Valtiberina with the Upper Marecchia Valley and Montefeltro.
Average time Sansepolcro – Badia Tedalda: about 40–45 minutes;
Sansepolcro – Sestino: about 1 hour 15 minutes.
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 Tuscan Valtiberina is crossed by routes that link the most important Franciscan sites in the Province of Arezzo, connecting the valley with La Verna, Arezzo and Umbria. The main routes, signposted and well described on the official maps, allow you to walk through woods, hills and villages of great spiritual charm.
CAMMINI DI FRANCESCO
– Cammino di Montecasale
From the Santuario della Verna the route descends through the forests of the Upper Valtiberina, crosses Pieve Santo Stefano and reaches the Hermitage of Cerbaiolo, a Benedictine monastery from the 8th century donated to Saint Francis in 1216. It then continues towards the Hermitage of Montecasale, a Franciscan site of great spiritual value, donated to the Saint in 1212 and among his most beloved retreats. The route continues towards Sansepolcro, then to Citerna, Monterchi, Città di Castello, along the Valtiberina up to Assisi. It is one of the most evocative and panoramic itineraries in the area, rich in historical and spiritual landmarks.
– Cammino della Casella
An itinerary linking the Santuario della Verna to Anghiari, passing the Hermitage of the Casella and Caprese Michelangelo. After Ponte alla Piera, the route reaches the Castle of Montauto, where Francis was often a guest of the ancient Galbino family. Nearby are the small chapel known as the Maestà di San Francesco and the Cenacolo di Montauto, from which the path continues to Anghiari. From this point you can choose to descend towards Citerna, where the route connects with the Montecasale way, or head west towards Arezzo and Cortona.
– Cammino delle Celle
This is the natural continuation of the Cammino della Casella westwards. From Anghiari you move towards Arezzo, with a stop at the Basilica of San Francesco, then continue across the Valdichiana to Cortona and the Hermitage Le Celle, before reaching Umbria and Assisi. The section Arezzo – Anghiari, about 27 km long, follows mid-hill roads and marked paths, offering panoramic views over the Tuscan countryside and the Tiber valley.
Walkable on foot or by bike, it is the natural link between Arezzo, the Valtiberina and the routes that continue towards Cortona and Assisi.
– Cammino di San Leo
An itinerary of great charm that starts from the Hermitage of Montecasale, near Sansepolcro, one of the oldest Franciscan places, steeped in spirituality. From here the route crosses the Tuscan-Romagnol Apennines along mountain paths and ancient transit routes, passing Badia Tedalda, Sestino, the Sasso di Simone and the village of Pugliano, until it reaches the majestic Fortress of San Leo, in Montefeltro. It can be covered in several stages, offering spectacular views and a journey through wild, silent landscapes, among forests, hermitages and historical landmarks that tell of Saint Francis’s deep bond with these places.
Visit the page on this site dedicated to the Cammini di Francesco, click here
For information, maps and official tracks:
Cycle routes and shared-use paths
The Tuscan Valtiberina offers routes suitable for cycle tourism and trekking, winding along the Tiber River and through the forests of the Apennines. The routes alternate gravel roads, paths and scenic byways that connect the valley’s main towns.
CYCLING AND SHARED-USE ROUTES
– Sansepolcro > Città di Castello: 20 km almost flat along the course of the Tiber, on low-traffic secondary roads, also ideal for e-bikes.
– Anghiari loop: 12 km hill route among olive groves and medieval walls, on gravel and local roads.
– Caprese Michelangelo > Monte Faggiola: about 15 km of panoramic ascent to the sources of the Tiber, immersed in the woods.
– Badia Tedalda > Sestino: a mountain itinerary on provincial and forest roads, along the ridges that mark the border with Romagna and the Marche.
LANDSCAPE AND NATURE
The valley preserves an intact environment, alternating woods, pastures and villages immersed in nature.
The sources of the Tiber, the forests of Caprese Michelangelo, the Alpe di Catenaia and the mountain areas of Sestino and Badia Tedalda offer nature itineraries of great interest, with views that extend as far as the Apennines and Romagna.
