Discover San Casciano in Val di Pesa

San Casciano in Val di Pesa lies in the hills between the valleys of the Pesa and Greve rivers. When deciding whether the town suits your planned stay, you can choose from different focuses: historic buildings and archaeological heritage, as well as a circular route through the municipality that takes several hours. Local produce and the setting give the destination further dimensions.

Chianti landscape and local produce

San Casciano is part of the Chianti Classico subzone and is known for producing extra virgin olive oil. Together with its hilly setting between the Pesa and Greve, this gives the town a profile that encompasses both landscape and regional produce. If these subjects are important to you when choosing a destination, you will find specific points of interest here alongside the historic sites. The information about the landscape and produce describes different aspects of San Casciano: its location between two river valleys and its local production.

Archaeological and medieval traces

Porta al Prato is the only surviving gate in San Casciano’s medieval town walls. The gate was rebuilt after the bombing in July 1944. This site therefore connects the history of the medieval fortifications with an event from the 20th century. The Tomba dell’Arciere offers a different perspective on the past: this Etruscan tomb is dated to approximately the middle of the 7th century BC. This date is far earlier than the first mention of the Pieve di Santo Stefano a Campoli in 903, giving local history a distinctly older archaeological dimension.

From San Casciano, reach the Tomba dell’Arciere by taking Via Grevigiana towards Mercatale; then follow the signs to Montefiridolfi and the Etruscan tomb. These directions are useful if you are particularly interested in archaeological heritage. The tomb and the surviving town gate represent different eras, offering two distinct points of historical interest.

Parish church, church and art

The Pieve di Santo Stefano a Campoli was first mentioned in 903. It is situated on the slope of Poggio di Monte Foscoli, in a densely wooded setting in the countryside. It offers wide-ranging views. The site thus combines an early historical reference with a clearly described position in the landscape.

The church of Santa Maria al Prato was built in 1304 and is closed for maintenance. Beside the church is a painted cross attributed to Simone Martini and dated to the third decade of the 14th century. The cross’s location beside the church is an important distinction if you are interested in the artwork: it is not inside the church.

Since 2014, the Torre panoramica del Chianti has housed the contemporary installation “Bulk-Icosaedro” by Patrizio Travagli and WOKdesign. Before visiting, check whether the installation is on view at that time. The art sites mentioned therefore range from a work dated to the medieval period to a contemporary installation.

The Anello di Calcinaia circular route

If you would like to plan a longer activity in the municipality, the Anello di Calcinaia circular route offers a clear indication of the time required: the route takes approximately four hours and can be walked year-round. It passes through the valleys along the Terzona River. The start and finish are in the village of Calcinaia, on the road from San Casciano in Val di Pesa to Mercatale, near the turnoff for Via Castelbonsi.

When planning your trip, you can distinguish the historic sites from the Anello according to their respective focus. The buildings, tomb and cross invite you to explore history and art; the circular route, by contrast, is a separate, approximately four-hour tour through the valleys along the Terzona. This can help you decide whether to focus your stay more on the cultural sites mentioned or on a longer route.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Montefiridolfi, La Romola, Mercatale, Bargino, Cerbaia, Ponte Rotto, San Pancrazio, Paterno.

For the higher-level travel overview: Florence.