Did you know that in the heart of Tuscany there is a wonderful nature trail that retraces the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci?
Passing from Vinci, Anchiano and Montevettolini, which are the places where the artist spent his life, the Leonardino path was inspired by a drawing made by Leonardo in 1473, which depicted a view from the oratory of Santa Maria della Neve in Montevettolini.
There are two paths: one is called "the high path" and passes through the Montalbano ridge for a total of 17 kms, while the "low path" crosses the marshy area of the Padule and continues for a total length of 19 km. Passing through some of the most beautiful places in the Tuscan countryside, these paths allow you to discover hidden beauties and landscapes which are often ignored by popular itineraries. Ideal for people of all ages, they can be covered by foot in 5-6 hours or by mountain bike in 2-3 hours.
Would you like to know more? Discover more about the Leonardino road and start organizing your tour following the footsteps of the Tuscan genius!
The first route passes through some places of great historical value. It starts from Anchiano, where Leonardo's birthplace is located: he was born here on April 15, 1452 and the house remained in the possession of his until 1624. The road then continues towards Sant'Amato, it crosses the "Path of the Ancient Mills" and the remains of a wall of the Barco Reale, which is the name of a construction commissioned by the Medici Family to protect the game of Montalbano. Then, you arrive at Costareccia, the place where one of the family properties was located, and continue towards Orbignano. In this small village there is the Church of Santa Maria al Pruno, which preserves a wooden statue of the Madonna which was found abandoned in the midst of brambles after a theft, according to a legend. The route continues towards Lamporecchio, where you can visit the Pieve di Santo Stefano and see the marvelous terracotta altarpiece from 1524, made by Giovanni Della Robbia. Later, the route passes through Larciano, a village dominated by the tower of a fortress, as well as through the medieval village of Cecina, finally reaching Montevettolini. In this locality, the Medici built a villa in 1597 that dominates the whole valley!
The second route best enhances the natural beauties of the place and starts from Anchiano to continue towards the Church of Santa Lucia, which is considered Leonardo's place of baptism. From here, it continue towards the Torre di Sant’Alluccio, where the saint created a hospice for pilgrims during the Middle Ages and where you can also enjoy a splendid view of Valdarno and the plain of Pistoia. On the ridge road, there is also the Abbey of San Baronto, which was an important stopping place for Medieval pilgrims. You will also come across the remains of the Barco Reale, a wonderful hunting bandit commissioned by the Medici between the 16th and 17th centuries, where the game was raised and kept. The wall was interspersed with gates and today it is still possible to see one of the floodgates used for the flow of water. It is a splendid place that should not be missed! Other places you must see are the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Faltognano and the 17th century Cappella del Barco, which are located near this path. Finally, you reach Montevettolini , where you can fall in love with the beauty of the Medici Villa.
Are you ready for your itinerary retracing the steps of Leonardo da Vinci? Book now one of our properties near Vinci, such as Nicola, Il Sole di Vino and Villa Nora, and get ready to discover the beautiful places of Leonardo's life!
