Caprese Michelangelo

A trip to Caprese Michelangelo can focus on different things: art and history, mountain scenery, cycling or the Festa del Marrone DOP in October.

Art and history

The Museo Michelangiolesco displays frescoes depicting 23 scenes from Michelangelo’s life. In its outdoor areas and upper courtyard, the museum houses modern and contemporary sculptures in wood and bronze, mainly from the second half of the 20th century. This offers art enthusiasts a way to compare different artistic references: the frescoes portray several scenes from Michelangelo’s life, while the sculptures foreground their materials and historical period.

The churches in Monna also offer their own historical highlights. The Chiesa di San Cristoforo was founded by Benedictine monks in the 10th century; the Chiesa di San Paolo dates from the 11th century. The accounts emphasize different aspects: San Cristoforo’s founding by a religious order, and the period in which the church of San Paolo originated.

The Santuario della Madonna della Selva was built between 1634 and 1640 to house an older fresco and welcome many worshippers. Following the reported Marian apparitions of 1634, the fresco came to be increasingly venerated in Caprese and the surrounding area. The construction period and the history of veneration thus belong to different parts of the historical account: the building of the sanctuary and the growing veneration of the fresco.

Mountain scenery and routes

On Monte Castello (1,415 m above sea level), commonly known as “Faggeta,” there is a meadow surrounded by monumental forests. If you would rather shape your trip around scenery than art history, this offers a specific point of interest: Monte Castello, its elevation, the meadow and the surrounding forests.

For cyclists who enjoy mountain scenery, Caprese Michelangelo has off-road and road cycling routes. The two types of route offer different ways to explore this mountain landscape by bike. Check route conditions before setting out. The western section of the Via di Francesco from La Verna to Anghiari passes through Caprese Michelangelo and Montauto. Conditions may also change along this route, so check route conditions in advance.

Festa del Marrone DOP in October

The Festa del Marrone DOP is held every October in the historic center of Caprese Michelangelo. Chestnut dishes, including castagnaccio, are available throughout the festival; the selection may vary from year to year. If you are travelling for this culinary tradition, check the dates of the current edition before your trip. This will help you take the festival dates into account when choosing when to travel.

Discover more destinations: Borgonuovo, Sestino, Foiano Della Chiana, Ortignano Raggiolo, Badia Tedalda, Pieve al Toppo, Bibbiena, Cavriglia.

Return to the main travel overview: Arezzo.