Paterno: Landscape, Churches and Walking Trails

For a stay in Paterno, landscape, church art and walking trails are distinct themes to explore. If you are looking for a hotel, these highlights can help you plan your trip around your interests. A precisely defined protected area, a painted cross from the 13th century and two walking trails described in different ways offer specific points of reference.

Protected landscape and olive groves

The protected landscape area covers a 100-metre-wide strip on both sides of Via Vicchio e Paterno, extending as far as the Chiesa di Vicchio di Rimaggio. The road, width and endpoint precisely define the protected area. The landscape comprises hills, a small plain, numerous villas, ancient buildings and churches set among olive groves. Together, these elements form a distinctive ensemble of particular landscape and traditional significance. The terrain, historic buildings and olive groves give the landscape described here a range of different features.

Church art in Paterno

A painted cross dating from the 13th century is housed in the Chiesa di Santo Stefano a Paterno. It is by an unknown artist associated with Cimabue’s circle. The dating and artistic attribution are two separate aspects: the century is specified, while the artist remains unknown and is associated with Cimabue’s circle. For travellers interested in medieval art, the cross offers a specific reason to explore both its date and the cautiously worded attribution.

Walking trails and their points of reference

The walking trail “Il sentiero della pietra bianca: Villamagna - La Fonte” passes through Paterno and continues via Poggio Balestrieri, Poggio Terra Bianca and Torre Terigi. These three named places provide specific points of reference along the route. By contrast, the circular route “Dal Bigallo all’Incontro, la pietra bianca e le antiche strade” is also characterised by its types of paths and historic traces.

This circular route runs mostly through woodland and along paved roads, unpaved tracks and marked trails. After the Chiesa di San Lorenzo a Paterno, it continues along Via Vicchio e Paterno. Along the way, it passes Vignalla, which is considered a medieval structure, and the former mill, Ex mulino di Paterno. The millstones are visible there. The route thus combines different types of surface with named historic points of reference.

The two walking route descriptions offer different ways to find your bearings: “Il sentiero della pietra bianca: Villamagna - La Fonte” focuses on three named points. The circular route also offers information about the woodland, types of paths, the continuation after the Chiesa di San Lorenzo and historic traces. You can therefore compare the routes based on whether named places or details about the character of the path and historic points of reference are more useful for planning your stay.

Plan your visit

Access to Agriturismo Fattoria Il Palazzaccio is by reservation. Check the reservation arrangements again before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Empoli, Calenzano, Dicomano, Gaville, Lastra A Signa, Lazzeretto, Rufina, Monterappoli.

Return to the overview of the wider area: Florence.