Florence urban trekking: Bellosguardo

Discovering the Oltrarno hills and the area of Bellosguardo.

Starting from Piazza Torquato Tasso we will walk in hilly streets and reach S.Francesco di Paola church. Then, through a gentle uphill around Bellosguardo area we will admire historical residences surrounded by beautiful mediterranean gardens.

We will see the historical S. Vito and Modesto before walking to S. Bartolomeo a Monte Oliveto, an UNESCO heritage site, known to be the birthplace of the "Annunciation" by Leonardo da Vinci. Walking to the magnificent Villa Strozzi Gardens, one of the most beautiful and historical green areas with incredible hillside views in Florence.

Next, we will explore some of the ancient cobblestone roads used since the Middle ages by pilgrims and traders to get in and out of town.

A magnificent panoramic spot with incredible views ranging from center to Fiesole hills will await on the top of Bellosguardo hill, a great reward for the slight uphill walk. A gentle downhill will introduce S. Ilario a Colombaia, an ancient pilgrims hospice dated XI century. The small square Villa has been a homestay for the famous novelist John Fenimore Cooper.

A characteristic hill road will unveil a "Via Matris", seven devotion tiles representing the Seven Pains of Mary, dated 1934, before heading to Porta Romana.