Casentino day trip from Florence or Arezzo
A day trip to the Casentino from Florence or Arezzo: the Hermitage and Monastery of Camaldoli in the forest, with the monks' old pharmacy, the castle ruins and Romanesque Pieve di Romena, then the hill town of Poppi and the castle of the Conti Guidi, and the Franciscan Sanctuary of La Verna on its cliff at the end of the day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Casentino in 1 day
Day 1
Hermitage of Camaldoli (Sacro Eremo)
The Sacro Eremo, founded by Saint Romuald in the early 11th century in the fir forest, with the monks' cells in rows behind the church.
Monastery of Camaldoli and old pharmacy
Monastery lower in the valley, once a hospice for pilgrims, with a church and the old pharmacy selling the monks' herbal products.
Castello di Romena
Ruins of the Conti Guidi castle on a hill above Pratovecchio, with its towers and walls and a view over the upper Casentino; Dante mentions Romena.
Pieve di Romena
Romanesque parish church of the 12th century below the castle, with carved stone capitals in a bare, quiet interior; still a place of retreat.
Historic centre of Poppi (Piazza Amerighi)
Hilltop town with arcaded streets below its castle, looking over the Campaldino plain where Dante fought in 1289.
Poppi Castle (Castello dei Conti Guidi)
13th-century castle of the Conti Guidi, with a courtyard staircase, frescoed halls and a library of old manuscripts.
Sanctuary of La Verna
Franciscan sanctuary on a forested cliff where Saint Francis received the stigmata in 1224, with della Robbia terracottas in its churches.
Watch: Casentino
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is the practical way: from Florence about 1 hour 15 over the Consuma pass, and from Arezzo about 45 minutes up the Arno valley. A local train runs from Arezzo to Poppi and Stia, but Camaldoli and La Verna can only be reached by road.
Staying in Florence or Arezzo? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Casentino
Late spring to early autumn is best, when the forest roads are clear and the mountain air is fresh; summer is cooler here than in Florence. October brings chestnuts and the colours of the beech forests, while winter can bring snow on the passes and shorter opening times.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Casentino on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Casentino on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Casentino on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Casentino
- Bring layers: the Hermitage and La Verna stand over 1,000 metres up in the forests of the Foreste Casentinesi national park, much cooler than Florence.
- The Hermitage is a place of silence: visitors see the church and the cell of Saint Romuald, and voices should be kept low.
- Stop at the old pharmacy of the Camaldoli monastery for the monks' liqueurs, herbal remedies, honey and soaps, made to old recipes.
- Try Casentino food: tortelli di patate, prosciutto from the local grey pig, and dishes made with chestnut flour in autumn.
- At La Verna the friars walk in procession to the Chapel of the Stigmata every afternoon; the path to the overhanging Sasso Spicco rock is short.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Hermitage of Camaldoli (Sacro Eremo): Francesco Gasparetti from Senigallia, Italy, CC BY 2.0
- Historic centre of Poppi (Piazza Amerighi): Tomandlouisa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monastery of Camaldoli and old pharmacy: Giuseppe Barberis, Public domain
- Pieve di Romena: Anna.Massini, CC BY 4.0
- Poppi Castle (Castello dei Conti Guidi): Tomandlouisa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sanctuary of La Verna: Gunnar Bach Pedersen, Public domain
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
