Area Attractions
There is plenty to do within a short drive or
train ride from !!
Il Poggiolo
is located in the heart of the Valdarno. There are three towns
within 10 minutes drive (Montevarchi is the largest, Levane,
Mercatale, and Bucine are smaller).
It is also roughly equidistant from the larger
cities of Florence, Arezzo and Siena, as follows:
- Florence - 35 min by train, 45 min
by car
- Arezzo - 20 min by train, 30 min by car.
- Siena - 30 min by car.
Getting to Florence from Il
Poggiolo: The nearest train station is : "Montevarchi
- Terranuova" on the Rome-Florence line. Given the parking
problem in all of the Medieval cities in Tuscany, it is often
advisable to park your car at the Montevarchi station and just
take the train. Ticket one-way to Florence costs €3.90
(reductions for children under 12 and adults over 65). Taking
the train (above all to Florence) for a day trip is a good idea,
especially if you calculate the cost of gas and parking (not
always easy to find). Cities easily reached by train from Montevarchi
include Florence, Arezzo, Cortona, Orvieto, Pisa, Lucca, and
even Rome.
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- Florence is the home of the Renaissance and art capital
of Europe. Its museums and historic center draw visitors
from all over the world, from Japan to North America.
- City of Florence tourism official
website
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Please visit our partner site for complete
Florence information. |
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- Siena is an unspoiled medieval city, home of the famous
Palio horse-race, and renowned for its legendary Panforte
(a spicy medieval fruit cake)
- See the Province of Siena official
website (click on british flag at upper right for
English version)
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- Arezzo is the starting point for the Piero
della Francesca trail, as it houses important frescoes
by this Renaissance artist. This medieval city was the
birthplace of celebrated artists and humanists, such
as Giorgio Vasari and Francesco Petrarch.
- See the Province of Arezzo official
website
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| Trekking in both the Apennine
Mountains and the Chianti hills (trails courtesy of the
CAI - Club Alpino Italiano). |
| Country Walks: Just stroll
out your front door and walk along the country roads in
the neighbourhood. See sunflowers turn as the sun moves
across the sky, grapes ripening on the vine, olives being
harvested in the fall. The village of Mercatale is only
3 km. away, a 45 minute stroll. A slightly more challenging
jaunt (5 km.) brings you to the 13th-century tower from
which there is a view of the entire Valdarno and Appennine
mountain range. And don’t forget to enjoy a cappuccino
or gelato at the local café before you walk home! |
| Natural Parks: the Parco
dell’Uccellina south of Grossetto, Pratomagno in the
Appennines, and many others. |
| Thermal baths: Rapolano,
Petrolo, Bagno Vignoni, Saturnia and many more. |
Swimming: Il Poggiolo
does not have its own pool, but there are outdoor pools
that can be reached in a short drive. This list was compiled
by our younger guests in their order of preference:
- "Croccodile": Near Arezzo. Artificial waves
and water slides and cafés and pizzeria.
- Municipal pool in Montevarchi with diving board and
local kids who strike up conversations in halting English.
- "Las Vegas" in San Giovanni Valdarno with
water slide and pizzeria-café.
- Pools at Capannole (near Bucine): fewer people, more
up-scale (better for adults), with trattoria & café.
- Fresh water ponds nearby are free.
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| County fairs, Gastronomic
fêtes and Town holidays (for patron saints). See
list of upcoming "sagre" (town fêtes) in
Tuscany. |
| Historic re-enactments:
the Palio of Siena, the Gioco del Saraceno in Arezzo, the
Calcio Storico match in Florence, and many more. |
Località Levanella, 52025 Montevarchi (AR)
Tel : +39 055 91 901 |
just happens to be as close as you can get to the Prada
outlet, destination for many a visitor to the area. |
Via Europa 8, 50060 Leccio, Reggello |
Tuscany's first designer outlet mall is
located at the Incisa exit off highway A-1 (which you take
from towards Florence).
Stores include Gucci, Armani, Valentino, Tods-Hogans, La
Perla, etc. The is
also nearby. |
Via
Enzo Ferrari, 5
Localita Farniole, Foiano della Chiana (AR) |
From
it's a short drive to this mall in the direction of Arezzo,
either on the A1 highway or via SS69. Has major stores,
Italian and non-Italian, with 30-70% discounts off tag price.
Stores like Guess, Benetton, Sisley, Bata etc. are viable
options for lower budgets as compared to the more upscale
"The Mall" which is only for luxury goods. There
are also some kitchen stores that carry discounted Italian
houseware items by Alessi, Lagostina, etc.
(website) |
| Recently opened large outlet mall with both
luxury and other brands. On the A-1 North of Florence, Barberino
exit, follow signs. For details please see the
Barberino website. |
| Weekly markets |
Food, clothes, tableware, handbags
and accessories, ironmonger items, etc… very popular
with all the locals of all the nearby towns. |
| Montevarchi Gastronomic Market |
The first Saturday of every month (mornings
only) hosts Montevarchi's nationally recognized Gastronomic
market, with food specialties from all of Tuscany and Italy. |
| Arezzo Antique Market |
The first weekend of every month hosts Arezzo's
famous antique fair. |
| Local speciality stores & gourmet shopping |
A list of suggested shops is provided in
the “Welcome Book”. |
| Supermarkets |
Every Tuscan town has its “Coop”
supermarket, which is a real cooperative, owned, staffed,
and run by locals. You will get very friendly service there,
and that personal touch missing in larger stores. In Montevarchi
there is a large "Ipercoop" supermarket, where
it is possible to purchase a vast selection of goods, from
food to clothing to furniture and sporting equipment. |
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