Londa between forests, hiking trails and local life

Londa offers several distinct starting points for a trip that brings together hiking, landscapes and local life. The town lies on the edge of the Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona e Campigna National Park. On the shore of the artificial Lago di Londa is the visitor centre “L’Uomo e il Paesaggio”. It explores the relationship between the natural landscape and the changes to the area caused by human activity over the centuries. This gives the lake and its surroundings a cultural and historical dimension, bringing the development of the landscape into focus alongside the trails.

Hiking trails and forest landscapes

Two different figures are useful when planning your routes. The Sentiero per Londa is a 12-kilometre circular hike. The Foresta di Rincine has 26 kilometres of hiking and educational trails to explore the surroundings. The distinction is useful for planning: 12 kilometres refers to a single circular hike, while 26 kilometres refers to the forest’s hiking and educational trails.

The Foresta di Rincine is also a model forest and part of an international network with more than sixty model forests worldwide. For nature enthusiasts, it brings together the landscape and an international perspective on forests. There is also a cultural connection along the Londa trail: the Rocca dei Conti Guidi is part of the route. This means that a named circular hike, educational trails in the forest and a cultural destination offer different ways to explore Londa during your stay.

The lake, local life and cultural connections

The visitor centre at Lago di Londa focuses on the interaction between nature and human activity over the centuries. Its facilities include a small laboratory set up for educational purposes, a computer with an internet connection, a library and a binocular microscope. These facilities add an educational dimension to the focus on the landscape. Lago di Londa is also a popular fishing spot.

Piazza Umberto I is a notable focal point in local life: it forms a natural amphitheatre and is often used for events and performances. In the small hamlet of La Lastra, there are rock carvings of Etruscan origin. So, alongside forests and trails, Londa also offers a venue for events and an archaeological point of interest. These can be explored independently and provide different cultural themes for your trip.

The Festa di Settembre is held on the second weekend of September; it was first introduced in the 1960s. The Festa culminates in the awarding of the Pesca d’Argento. The award goes to the producer who submitted the best crate of Pesca Regina, a late-season peach variety typical of this area. The award connects the festival directly with a peach variety characteristic of the region. If you would like to include the Festa in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

Getting to Londa

Londa can be reached by intercity bus from Florence. Alternatively, you can take the train to Contea-Londa and then continue by bus. Check the timetables before travelling so you can choose the connection that best suits your plans. The two options offer different ways to get there: a bus from Florence or a train followed by a bus.

Discover more destinations: Meleto, Gaville, Massarella, Florence, Lazzeretto, Polvereto, Montelupo Fiorentino, Limite

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