Agriturismo in Casentino with Cooking Classes

The Casentino is the upper Arno valley, in the province of Arezzo, and the Arno rises here, on Monte Falterona. The valley is closed to the west by the Pratomagno and to the east by the mountains of La Verna and Camaldoli. In the mountains is the Casentinesi Forests National Park, with the beech woods of Sasso Fratino, a UNESCO site since 2017.

The farm stays in the Casentino listed on Agriturismi.it are in Poppi, Bibbiena, Capolona and Pratovecchio Stia, and in smaller municipalities such as Ortignano Raggiolo, Talla and Chiusi della Verna. Two in three have a swimming pool, half accept pets and almost four in ten have a restaurant. In their reviews, guests mostly mention the welcome from the hosts and the peace and quiet. The list also includes farm stays in the surrounding area.

From Arezzo you can get here on the SS71 road or by train to Stia. From Florence you go over the Consuma Pass.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE CASENTINO: in Poppi, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, below the castle of the Counts Guidi; in Bibbiena, with the Tarlati Tower; in Capolona, on the right bank of the Arno at the foot of the Pratomagno, near Arezzo; in Pratovecchio Stia, home of the park headquarters.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE CASENTINO: the Sanctuary of La Verna, where Saint Francis received the stigmata in 1224; the Hermitage of Camaldoli, founded by Saint Romuald around 1012; Poppi Castle, overlooking the plain of Campaldino; Romena Castle, mentioned by Dante, with its Romanesque parish church; the Wool Art Museum in Stia; the della Robbia terracottas in San Lorenzo in Bibbiena.

FOOD AND WINE: potato tortelli, acquacotta, scottiglia and the pecorino and ricotta of Talla. Casentino ham and the red potato of Cetica are Slow Food Presidia. Towards Arezzo, between Capolona and Subbiano, Chianti Colli Aretini is also made.

THINGS TO DO: walk the Sentiero delle Foreste Sacre, seven stages to La Verna; climb to Capo d'Arno on Monte Falterona; listen to wolves howling with the park rangers; visit the European Wildlife Zoo Park in Poppi.