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Valdinievole, not far from Pistoia, is the land of Pinocchio and Leonardo, an area rich with nature, history and architecture, but also great food and wine. It’s got all the ingredients for a fantastic experience, whatever your chosen mode of transportation – by bike, motorcycle, car or on foot. The first edition of Open Week Montecatini Terme and Valdinievole takes place from March 26 to April 3, 2016, and it’s an invitation to take some time out for yourself and explore this little known part of Tuscany. A rich calendar of activities and special openings add to the appeal of a visit during this week, though if you miss out, there are plenty of options for a self-guided visit any time of the year.
What to see in Valdinievole
Even the trip into the area of Valdinievole, leaving from Florence, Pisa or nearby Pistoia, is part of the fun, with uncontaminated landscapes, hilltowns and ancient thermal baths just outside the window.
The town of Buggiano Castello
During Open Week, these unique jewels will be yours to discover thanks to special opportunities like the opening of parts of the Fucecchio Marshes that are normally closed to the public (the Castel Martini visitor centre and the documentation center at the Dogana Capannone, amongst others). In the area known as the svizzera pesciatina (the Switzerland of Tuscany), there are special activities at the Paper Museum in Pietrabuona, not far from the gorgeous Romanesque church of Castelvecchio which is certainly worth a visit.
The luxurious Terme of Montecatini
Feel like you’ve discovered something your friends haven’t seen with the exclusive openings of the museums and churches of the tiny town of Porciano (for the taking are the Sacred Art Museum, the Museum of country culture and the church of San Giorgio). Or explore more art at the San Michele museum of sacred art at Massa e Cozzile. More museums and churches will be open in Monsummano Terme, Pescia, Ponte Buggianese and Buggiano Castello, housing works that prove the historic importance of this territory.
If seeing museums on your own isn’t your thing, don’t worry: Open Week offers expert guides who can take you through them, but also into its many areas of natural interest, from hiking in the svizzera pesciatina to a trip down the mines of Vellano.
What to eat
For the tired hiker or museum-goer, refreshment is never far away in the Valdinievole, where the pure land produces all sorts of local excellences. Amongst the most famous are the Fagiolo di Sorana IGP (white beans), the almond filled Cialda di Montecatini, and the sweet and crispy Brigidino di Lamporecchio. Wash these down with a local wine – good reds and whites are produced locally.
Local grapes grown in Valdinievole
Open Week is the perfect opportunity to taste these and other specialities in good local trattorie, a short distance, but conceptually very far away, from the chaos of the big city, where traditional values make it on to the plate. Amongst some of the special tasting events, we note the Degustazione Bottega Emiliana Rachini on Saturday March 26 in Pescia with presentation and tasting of local cheeses, a salamella Toscana and gluten-free chocolate; the guided tour of the oil press and subsequent olive oil tasting at Olio Montalbano Agricola Alimentare Toscana on Monday March 28; and a demonstration and dinner about food and alimentary lifestyles at the Hotel Santa Caterina in Pescia on Saturday April 2.
An itinerary for everyone
The area of Valdinievole is easily broken down into thematic itineraries providing interesting activities for the whole family. Lovers of two wheels, be it motorcycles or bicycles, will find numerous proposals through gorgeous, relaxing landscapes where the colours of Tuscany shine through and small towns where time stands still. For the young at heart, there’s a path called the via della Fiaba, the fairy-tale trail, between Pescia and Collodi in Pinocchio territory.
The Pinocchio Park
There are hill towns like Montecatini Alto, Uzzano, Buggiano and Massa that you can reach on an energetic hike (or with an easy car ride) through rolling hills. Finally, photography buffs will find animals upon which to train their lenses at the in the Fucecchio Marsh, the largest inland marsh in Italy.
For information about the Open Week and more itineraries in the Valdinievole, please see Da Leonardo a Pinocchio.
All photos courtesy of Niccolo Begliomini, copyright 2016.
