Pieve San Giovanni: Church, Trails and Views

Pieve San Giovanni between church and hiking trail

For a stay in Pieve San Giovanni, two specific themes can serve as a guide: the Pieve dei Santi Giovanni Battista e Marino and the Sentiero dei Sulpici. The church is a religious building in the village; the trail also starts there. This places a cultural landmark alongside a route with viewpoints and turnoffs. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to this area, distinguishing between the two can help you decide what you want to focus on: would you rather explore the village through its religious building or include the landscape along the trail in your plans?

Loop trail or detour?

At point 22 on the Sentiero dei Sulpici, you can take a 10-kilometre loop trail to Pieve San Giovanni. At point 26, a 600-metre detour leads to Poggio Grillo. The options differ in both destination and type of route: one is a loop trail to Pieve San Giovanni, the other a detour to a named viewpoint. Comparing the distances helps you gauge the scope of both options in advance. Your choice therefore depends on both the route length and whether you want to focus on the loop trail or the detour to Poggio Grillo.

Views along the Sentiero dei Sulpici

Along the Sentiero, there are numerous viewpoints overlooking Arezzo, the surrounding ridges, the Salutio stream valley and the slopes of Pratomagno. From Poggio Grillo, you can enjoy views of the lower Casentino and Monte della Verna. The viewpoints are in different locations: the views of Arezzo, the ridges, the stream valley and Pratomagno are along the trail; the views of the lower Casentino and Monte della Verna are from Poggio Grillo. Point 26 is the trail waypoint for the detour there, linking the route information to the views at Poggio Grillo.

A historical interpretation of the landscape

One historical interpretation points back to the hill of Pieve San Giovanni: a Roman consular family probably had a villa built there to enjoy the view across the plain between the Arno and the Chiana. This presumed purpose connects the hill with the view over the plain. This historical perspective thus adds a distinct cultural viewpoint on Pieve San Giovanni to the religious building and the route.

Plan your journey

Pieve San Giovanni can be reached by scheduled bus from Arezzo. Check the bus times for your chosen day. You can return by train from Capolona; also check the services that run on your travel date. These are two separate options to consider when planning: a bus journey from Arezzo and a possible return train from Capolona. This lets you consider the timing of your arrival and return and check how the services you want fit into your day’s plans.

For the wider travel overview: Capolona.