Settignano: History, Garden Art and Walking Routes

Settignano brings together a range of themes to help you plan your trip: local history, garden art and walking routes with scenic views. Cultural highlights include a small monumental cemetery, an oratory with frescoes and an outstanding example of Italian garden art. The walking routes are distinguished by their historic paths, specific waypoints and panoramas of Settignano or Florence. You can tailor your stay to your particular interests in history, design or landscape.

History and Garden Art

The Settignano cemetery was established in 1855 and developed into a small monumental cemetery from the final decades of the 19th century onward. These are two distinct points in time: the cemetery was established earlier, while its development into a monumental cemetery began later. The Oratorio della Madonna del Vannella was built between 1719 and 1721 and decorated with frescoes. It commemorates the apparition of the Madonna to a girl named Vanna, commonly known as Vannella. The cemetery and oratory therefore represent different historical associations: the cemetery’s later development on the one hand, and construction and religious commemoration on the other.

Villa Gamberaia is an outstanding example of an Italian garden, where natural and architectural elements are harmoniously combined. Its main theme is the interplay between nature and design. This distinguishes its garden art from the historically specific stories of the cemetery and the oratory. If you are especially interested in gardens, this combination offers a clear point of interest.

Walking Routes and Views

The Anello alto di Settignano circular route starts in the old town centre, the original core of the Roman village, and passes through the countryside to Il Bosco. This clearly identifies the historic starting point and destination, while the countryside section adds to the character of the circular route. Via del Crocifissalto offers a different focus: it follows an ancient Etruscan and Roman route, is supported by a large stone wall and opens out downhill to a panoramic view. When choosing, you can opt for a route with a named town centre and destination, or one whose distinctive features are its history, wall and view.

A path between Villa Pieragnoli and the Oratorio della Vannella offers panoramic views of Settignano and Florence. On the Fiesole–Settignano route, the Florence skyline can be seen between cypress and olive trees. Named waypoints include the Sentiero degli scalpellini (Stonecutters’ Path), Mensola Park, Montececeri Park and Piazzale Leonardo da Vinci. This lets you distinguish between a panorama explicitly focused on the town and the city, and views of the Florence skyline along a route.

The Area del Mensola has CAI trails and other marked paths that hikers can use to travel from Fiesole through the church of San Lorenzo a Vincigliata to Settignano. The Sentiero degli scalpellini, named on the Fiesole–Settignano route, is only partly walkable because it is interrupted. Since earliest times, people have travelled from Settignano to the higher quarries of Feliceto, Trassinaia and Maiano. Keep these details distinct when planning: travel to the quarries describes the route’s historical context, while the interruption relates to its current walkability. As trail conditions can change, check the current situation before setting out.

For the broader travel overview: Florence.