Sestino: History, Chianina and Hiking Routes

Sestino offers several ways to plan a stay: the history of a fortified-city project, an antiquarium, a Chianina festival, and cycling and hiking routes. You can organize these topics around your interests as you plan your trip. The festival takes place at a recurring date in June; the routes each highlight specific landscapes, directions and destinations.

Fortified city on Sasso di Simone

Cosimo I de’ Medici began building a fortified city on Sasso di Simone in 1566. The project links a person, a date and a clearly named place. If you are interested in Sestino’s history, this starting point for construction provides a specific point of reference in time. The focus is the planned fortified city on Sasso di Simone.

Ancient inscriptions at the antiquarium

The Antiquarium Nazionale di Sestino includes an epigraphic section with stone stelae and tablets from the imperial period, from the 1st to the 4th century AD. Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions; here, this focus takes you to stone records dating from a period spanning several centuries. This offers a distinct way to explore Sestino’s past alongside the history of the fortified-city project.

Note the most recently observed visitor status: on August 29, 2026, the antiquarium was temporarily closed. Check again before visiting to see whether it is accessible.

Chianina and the Sagra della Bistecca

The Sagra della Bistecca Chianina celebrates Chianina cattle, and especially steak prepared from this breed. It takes place every year on the last weekend of June. During the three-day festival, Sestino has food stalls and grilled Chianina steak. The date and culinary focus give you two specific points to consider if you would like to plan a trip around the festival. Check the date for the relevant year before making it part of your plans.

Cycling through forests, valleys and high pastures

Cycling routes associated with Sestino pass through the Alta Val Metauro and the valleys of the Marche. The landscapes mentioned include Turkey oak forests, streams and high pastures. The route descriptions therefore cover both wooded sections and waterways, as well as open areas at higher elevations. If cycling is your main interest, these landscape features may help you choose a route. Route conditions and signage can change; check both before setting off.

Hiking trails with different points of reference

The challenging CAI Trail No. 61 leads from Sestino to Romituccio. Its challenging rating and stated destination are important points of reference when planning your hike; trail conditions may vary. Another hiking section leaves Sestino, crosses the Foglia River toward Monte Serra di Battiroli, and passes Parco Faunistico di Ranco Spinoso. The park is home to fallow deer, red deer and mouflons.

The two hiking descriptions can be distinguished by their specific features: the challenging rating and destination of Romituccio are the main points of reference for CAI Trail No. 61. For the other section, the crossing of the Foglia, the direction toward Monte Serra di Battiroli and the route past the wildlife park help you find your way. No walking time or difficulty rating is given for this second section. Check current trail conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Monterchi, Pieve Vecchia, Stia, Castelfranco Di Sopra, Colcellalto, Toppole, Pian Di Sco, Caprese Michelangelo

Return to the main travel overview: Arezzo.