Pratomagno

The majestic Pratomagno massif owes its name to the vast green mantle that covers its ridge at 1,592 m. above the sea level. From here you can enjoy beautiful views over a large part of the Tuscan territory. The highest peak is the so-called Croce del Pratomagno, which owes its name to the imposing iron cross erected there in 1928. The mountain dominates the two valleys of Casentino and Upper Valdarno, mostly in the area of Arezzo, and only a small part in the Florentine one, like Monte Secchieta, reachable from Vallombrosa. The Aretine side consists, instead, of the slopes of Monte Lori, which can be reached both from the Passo della Crocina, in Casentino, and from Loro Ciuffenna, in Valdarno. 

The magical combination of altitude and wonderful meadows makes Pratomagno the ideal destination for mountain lovers, as it offers activities for all levels, all tastes and all seasons. 

In spring and summer it offers breathtaking landscapes rich in flowers and plants of many varieties: an ideal place for a picnic. Noteworthy are also its forests and their fresh and regenerating air. The massif also offers numerous paths both for those who love quiet walks and for those who want to try their hand at more challenging itineraries like equipped trails, iron ways and natural climbing sites. There are tracks for cyclists and let’s not forget the possibility to make suggestive night walks, departing at sunset to enjoy the moonlight. 

In autumn, its woods are frequented by mushroom hunters, while in winter there is no shortage of adventurous people who like to engage in hiking trails and snowshoe walks

The slopes of Pratomagno are dotted with small and delightful villages, able to offer pleasant experiences to their visitors. Some are famous for snacks, others offer accommodation facilities with breathtaking views and in still others you can enjoy traditional local products and dishes . They are perfect places to leave the stress of city life behind and relax in the greenery and tranquility of the mountain, between tasty typical dishes and outdoor activities. 

Their origin is, in most cases, Medieval as they arose as castles, defensive structures or watchtowers and, in some of them, are kept Romanesque churches of indescribable beauty, such as the Parish church of  Gropina – near Loro Ciuffenna – dedicated to St. Peter, just to name one.  

Even walking through the Pratomagno forests it is possible to come across equally suggestive places, such as the Abbey of Santa Trinita in Alpe, a church built in the 10th century, whose remains are today totally immersed in the greenery at an altitude of almost 1.000 meters. It recalls the importance that this massif has had over the centuries.  Millenary churches, witnesses of an ancient past in which this mountain and its villages represented an important transit and communication route.