Terre di Toscana

Impruneta

Impruneta can be reached by a scenic road which climbs from Galluzzo through the typical Florentine hills, olive groves and vineyards and narrow roads between high walls which hide the historic villas of the nobility. The town is on top of a hill and has a huge square dominated by the Santuario tower.

HOW TO GET THERE
By train
The nearest station is that of Santa Maria Novella in Florence.
By bus
Take the ATAF line number 37 in Santa Maria Novella Square to Tavarnuzze and continue with a bus from the CAP line; or take the CAP bus straight from piazzetta Alinari near the Santa Maria Novella station.
By car
A1 motorway exit “Firenze Certosa” (entrance to the Firenze-Siena connection) then follow signs for Tavarnuzze and then to Impruneta (6 km).

Tavarnuzze
As soon as the road leaves Tavarnuzze the hill called Vallombrosina can be seen and, soon after, the fields dotted with the 4000 tombstones of the American War Memorial Cemetery.

L’Ugolino
Around the Villa dell’Ugolino, built in the 17th century by Gherardo Silvani, after 1930 the new golf course of the Golf Club Firenze was created, designed by English architects, who lavished it with pines and olive trees and with a line of cypress trees marking the 18-hole course.
Informations
Circolo del Golf dell'Ugolino
via Chiantigiana, 3
50015 Grassina - Firenze
tel. 055 2301009
fax 055 2301141
info@golfugolino.it
www.golfugolino.it

Mezzomonte
The hills between Impruneta and Florence have splendid villas and farmhouses, surrounded by one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
There is Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte, a large 16th century building which was added to in the 17th century. It has belonged to the Panciatichi, prince Giovan Carlo d’Medici and finally, since 1644 to the Corsini family. The interior is decorated with 17th century frescoes, while the exterior is embellished by statues and terracotta pots from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Informations: tel-fax 055 208078
info@villacorsini.com - www.villacorsini.com

Villa De Larderel
Going down to Florence through Pozzolatico, we find the group of buildings which form the Fondazione Don Gnocchi, and which includes Villa de Larderel. This primitive construction dates back to the 14th century and was the most important residence of the Ricci family. It was then rebuilt in its present form by the counts De Larderel who had bought it in 1837.

S. Gersolè e il Castello di Montauto
Leaving the road to Florence and Pozzolatico and turning right in the direction of Grassina, we can see the charming village of San Gersolé, with its small Church of San Pietro. Here you can enjoy a spectacular view of Florence. Further on, hidden among the cypresses, the Montauto castle has kept most of its original medieval aspect.

Gastronomy
The hills around Impruneta produce top quality olive oil and IGP and DOCG wines.
A typical dish is the “peposo”, a kind of beef stew cooked slowly in red wine with black pepper. Once it used to be cooked in the heat left over from the terracotta kilns after taking out the fired earthenware.

Fiera di S. Luca
The Fiera di San Luca has for centuries taken place during the week of the feast of San Luca, 18th October. On this occasion the square fills with farmers, merchants, stalls and animals, a subject so dear to the heart of painters and engravers from the 16th to the 18th century. It is one of the most beautiful old livestock fairs which still survives in Tuscany and attracts thousands of people even today.