I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
Henry David Thoreau
Welcoming forests, which enable the visitor to experience vivid and deep sensations; full of meditative silences that can turn in an instant into fascinating sounds, providing tales and encounters to tell. The park surrounds a precious treasure: the ‘Nature Reserve of Sasso Fratino’
The Ecomuseum of Casentino is organised as a network of exhibition spaces, cultural testimonies and experiences, which are dispersed throughout the valley, maintaining strong links with the local community. Each ecomuseum in the network has its own role to play, and individual characteristics, which also reflect diverse times, spaces and ways of doing things.
It doesn’t matter what faith you are or whether you are a believer or not. Spiritual places have a very special energy that surpasses religious boundaries and invigorates the heart and the mind.
Beautiful Romanesque churches full of art, culture and religion
Attractive places to relive history and admire wonderful architecture.
In the Casentino valley you will find museums that recount historical, cultural and folkloric aspects of the region.
Casentino is a small, precious jewel in Tuscany: atmospheric and rich with history. The valley is in the province of Arezzo, a few kilometres from Florence; the first section of the river Arno flows through it, starting at Mount Falterona (1654m above sea level). Mount Falterona, together with Mount Falco (1658m above sea level), makes up the northern border of the valley, at the boundary with Romagna. In the east, the Alps of Serra and the Alps of Catenaia separate Casentino from the higher Tiber valley. In the west, the Pratomagno Massif separates it from the higher Valdarno. Finally, the western reliefs of Mount Falterona separate the valley from Mugello.
Many activities to suit all tastes and ages; a day at the zoo, a walk in the shade of the beech woods, surround yourself with colour, a walk in the snow, a game of golf, an excursion and so much more….
"Travelling is like dreaming: the only difference is that not everyone, once awake, can recall their dream. Whereas, everyone has a vivid memory of the trip from which he has returned. "
Edgar Allan Poe
Enjoy the sunset accompanied by the sound of music, a view of Casentino in front of a plate of steaming ‘tortelli’ pasta and a glass of red wine, a concert lit by starlight, a walk in the shade of the beech trees, and so much more…
Discover the tastes of Casentino with a journey through its local produce, which vary from handmade to farmed products, and don’t miss the local Casentino dishes.
The Ecomuseum of Casentino is located in the first valley of the ‘Valle dell’Arno’, in the province of Arezzo. The initiative was started at the end of the nineties by the ‘Comunità Montana’ (mountain community) with community funding (LEADER 2 and LEADER PLUS) and the direct involvement of various municipal administrations.
The general structure of the project, with a focus on museum systems and centres, which can be found amongst other experiences in the region, represents a sort of ‘Tuscan model’ in the definition of museum systems on a local scale.
The Ecomuseum of Casentino, in its original conception, was set up using six systems (archeological, castle civilization, water, woodland, pastoral agriculture, manufacturing), macro themes through which it’s possible to examine the dynamics of the relationship between mankind and the environment in time and space. Every system is expressed through a series of themes, with specific roles and characteristics, which also reflect diverse times, spaces and ways of doing things.