Balze loop past Chiesa di San Tommaso
Terranuova Bracciolini, Castelfranco Piandiscò · about 45 min by car from Florence
The walk
6.2 km loop between Terranuova Bracciolini and Castelfranco Piandiscò: about 1 h 45 of walking. Waymarked hiking trail. Along the way: Monastero di San Salvatore a Soffena, Chiesa di San Tommaso and Oratorio della Compagnia del Sacramento. After the walk: wine tasting at Paterna (6.5 km) and lunch at Casa e Ciliegie in Loro Ciuffenna (11.1 km).
Waymarked hiking trail (grade E): paths and dirt roads, good walking shoes are enough.
Ascent not available for this trail: walking time estimated from distance.
How to get there
By car
From Florence: about 45 min (31 km as the crow flies). Most trailheads have roadside parking or a small car park in the nearest village.
By train and bus
Take a train to Florence, then a regional bus or a taxi for the last stretch. Our link plans the whole trip with Google Maps public transport.
Start point
43.60834,11.56253
Coordinates of the first waymark. Paste them into any map app.
Country buses run less often on Sundays and holidays, and some not at all: check the return journey before you set off.
Also within reach: Siena, about 55 min by car
Along the way
- Castelfranco di SopraOne of “I Borghi più belli d’Italia”, the most beautiful villages of Italyon the trail
- Monastero di San Salvatore a Soffena50 m from the trail
- Chiesa di San Tommaso50 m from the trail
- Oratorio della Compagnia del Sacramento100 m from the trail
Wikipedia (Italian)
Where to eat and drink
Book tastings ahead, and check opening days: many osterie close one day a week.
A good day here
- 10:00Park near Terranuova Bracciolini and start the walk.
- 11:45Back at the start after about 1 h 45 min.
- 13:00Lunch at Casa e Ciliegie in Loro Ciuffenna, 11 km by car.
- 15:30Tasting at Paterna, 6.5 km from the trail.
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