The Outskirts - Pratovecchio, Poppi and other towns

Località del Casentino

Romena Castle Poppi Castle Camaldoli Eremo Verna Sanctuary Stia Pratovecchio Pratovecchio is the town where the farm-residence is located. Over that, worth of a visit are the Castle of Romena and Pieve of St. Pietro a Romena, intact examples of XII c. Romanic architecture with a precious apse, wonderful capitals and the remains of an ancient X c. church. Poppi Poppi is placed in the center of Casentino (475m o.s.l.). The medevial town of Poppi is a rare example of a “walled city”, in which at the highest point you can find the impressive Castello dei Conti Guidi, work of the famous family of architects “Cambio” and which is the proto-type of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Thanks to constant retoration the condition of the castle has been maintained and remains even today an excellent structure to visit. An interesting place is Camaldoli (sec. XI), with its Eremo and its monastery. Chiusi della Verna Situated in a defensive place on the steep southern wall of Mt. Penna, the famous Franciscan sanctuary has always been a destination for pilgrims: it lies within a silent and gloomy wood where the Saint spent most of his hermit's life. The calcareous nature of the mountain shaped its harsh morphology, characterized by a number of ravines and natural cavities opening up under the shadow of majestic maples, ashes, elms, and beeches. Some particularly suggestive places were chosen by the Saint and by the monks for their prayers. The mountain was given to St. Francis in 1213 by the Casentinese count Orlando Cattani, who is today buried in the small church of Santa Maria degli Angeli whose building he supported. In September 1224, the miracle of the stigmata took place at the Verna. The event was recalled by Dante in the Paradiso and is still commemorated in a solemn festivity. Bibbiena Bibbiena is one of the most important town of Casentino. There you may find Dovizi Palace of Renaissance time, St. Lawrence Oratory, the church of St. Ippolito and St. Donato » More