Reggello: Art, Forest and Olive Oil

If you’re looking for a hotel in Reggello, you can start by considering whether you’d like to explore the area mainly for its art history, the forests of Vallombrosa or its olive oil. The museums and churches showcase collections and architectural history; the forest and olive groves bring the landscape and local production to the fore. These themes can help guide your trip planning without requiring you to follow a set itinerary.

Art and Sacred Buildings

A specific art-historical reference is the Trittico di San Giovenale at the Museo Masaccio di Arte Sacra. It bears the date 23 April 1422 and is considered the earliest known work by the young Masaccio. The museum also houses paintings from the Florentine school, silverwork, ecclesiastical objects and precious liturgical vestments dating from the 15th to the 20th century. The triptych provides a precise historical reference point; the collection also includes works and objects from several centuries.

The Museo d'Arte Sacra dell’Abbazia di Vallombrosa displays paintings, sculptures, old books, illuminated codices and liturgical objects. These include the Parato Altoviti and an altarpiece by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his workshop. The architectural history of the abbey also has clear dates: the large cloister, sacristy and tower date from the 15th century. The collection and the architectural features represent different aspects of the abbey—sacred art and books on the one hand, and architectural history on the other.

The Pieve di San Pietro a Cascia offers a much earlier historical perspective. It was built at the behest of Countess Matilde di Canossa between the 10th and 11th centuries and is considered a well-preserved example of Romanesque architecture. Compared with the 15th-century features of the Abbazia di Vallombrosa, the Pieve points to a different era. If you’re planning your stay around architectural history, you can use these differences in age to help choose the themes you’d like to explore.

The Castello di Sammezzano in Reggello combines arabesque and Indian elements, forms inspired by the Alhambra in Granada and symbols of Freemasonry. The castle is currently closed to the public. Check its current status before planning a trip in which a visit would be essential.

Vallombrosa: Forest and Trees

The Foresta di Vallombrosa covers 1,279 hectares and lies at an altitude of 450 to 1,450 metres. These area and altitude figures give the forest a different scale from the specific collections and buildings at the cultural sites. The Arboreti Sperimentali di Vallombrosa contain more than 3,000 specimens from over 1,000 botanical units and 85 genera from different parts of the world.

The Anello dei Giganti trail in the Riserva Biogenetica Naturale di Vallombrosa leads on foot to a 62.45-metre-tall Douglas fir and a second tree that is 59.83 metres tall. Here, the focus is on the heights of individual trees, while the figures for the Foresta di Vallombrosa describe the larger natural area. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Olive Oil and Landscape

The hilly countryside around Reggello includes terraces laid out since the 14th century, with vineyards and olive groves. This is where Reggello Toscano extra virgin olive oil is produced. The landscape and the product are therefore closely connected: the terraces shape the agricultural setting described here, while the olive oil is a specific product of the area.

The Rassegna dell'Olio Extravergine d'Oliva di Reggello takes place every year in late October and early November. Products are sold at local producers’ stalls, and public tastings are also held. The exact event dates vary from year to year. If you’d like to include the event in your trip plans, check the dates for your travel year.

Discover more destinations: Sant'ellero, Fornaci Incisa, Donnini, San Donato Fronzano, Tosi, Cancelli, Tallini, Vallombrosa.

For the broader travel overview: Florence.