Poppi

Located in the center of Casentino in the province of Arezzo, Poppi is recognized as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and is an authentic and fascinating tourist destination for those seeking places of historical and cultural interest surrounded by nature.

Surrounded by the spectacular nature of the National Park of the Casentino Forests, Mount Falterona and Campigna, it is a true oasis of peace and serenity for hiking enthusiasts. Several trails stand out around the village, offering the opportunity to explore the area and discover places rich in history and spirituality, such as the Sacred Hermitage of Camaldoli and the Sanctuary of La Verna, linked to the figure of St. Francis of Assisi.

With its many tourist attractions, the unique experiences offered by the village of Poppi are the perfect example of how to best experience the essence of Tuscany.

Poppi's best attractions
The Castello dei Conti Guidi is undoubtedly one of Poppi's top tourist attractions. This imposing medieval fortress captivates visitors with its architecture and breathtaking views. Inside the castle it is possible to visit the Rilliana Library, which houses precious manuscripts and incunabula.

Walking through the town's historic center, one can admire enchanting views that evoke the atmosphere of the past. Not to be missed is the Badia di San Fedele, one of the oldest and most interesting structures in Casentino, dating back to the 13th century, which preserves valuable works of art, including a Madonna and Child from the late 13th century.

Also in the historic center, in the small Piazza Amerighi, stands the elegant Oratory of the Madonna del Morbo. Built in 1705 to a design by Poppese physician Francesco Folli, the construction of the sacred edifice was intended as a tribute to the Virgin for having provided an escape from the plagues that had struck Casentino a century apart.

Near the village, a little more than 10 kilometers from Poppi, is the Pieve di San Pietro a Romena, an ancient church built entirely of stone that preserves valuable works of art inside.

Among typical products and dishes and events
A trip to Poppi is not complete without savoring the delights of typical Casentino cuisine, made up of the products that the forested area offers: truffles, mushrooms and chestnuts.

The symbolic dish of Alto Casentino is the potato tortello, which is often the only course, the so-called "stortellata". Another well-known dish of the area is Scottiglia, also named "caciucco di terra", "caciucco di carne" or "caciucco del Casentino." It is a stew prepared with many meats. The more types of meats used, the better the dish.

Not only food and wine but also culture. Among the events that enliven the village, the historical reenactment L'Inferno a Campaldino is the most anticipated. For two days each year, Poppi Castle comes alive with historical figures from the 13th century to remember and commemorate dramatic experiences of the past.

BY CAR

• From the North: take the A1 highway; exit Firenze sud; direction Pontassieve; It consumes; Poppi
• From the south: take the A1 highway; exit Arezzo; direction Casentino; Bibbiena; Poppi
• From the East: take the E 45 highway; exit Bagno di Romagna; direction; Badia Prataglia; Members; Poppi

ON THE TRAIN

• Arezzo station

BY PLANE

• Florence airport
• Pisa airport
• Rome airport

The microcosm of venerable hermits, innkeepers, friars, jugglers, penitents, abbesses, converted and Madonnas that, in Fiabe fantastiche by Emma Perodi (1892), recite their part on the same depth of the Casentino, enlightens us on the essence of this valley that draws a different Tuscany: not the one of Giglio, Fiorentina, elegant geometric, harmonica, Renaissance, but that where the Arno opens the road in the middle of the mountains of the Apennines, toward the borders of Romagna. Here, everything is more forested, more mystic. Here, the ravines in the caves and of course in the details, the devil hides. Precisely in the Casentino area where in the first centuries of Christianity, there were monks who spent their lives to collect and write legends of saints, the devil appears. And even if this is no longer the case, we still feel mysterious presences in the woods surrounding the parish churches and castles of Casentino. Between these castles, that of Poppi maintains its romantic "aura": its mole imposes itself on the valley, is visible from all towns around and is the expression of the warrior spirit of its founders, the Guidi Counts, uncontested lords of Casentino until 1440, when the betrayal of one of them opened the road to the florentine possession. The castle bears the signature of the famous family of architects Di Cambio and is the "prototype" of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The existing walls and four ports (originally five)  of the village were already constructed since about thirty years when, on 11 June 1289, they fought at Campaldino, in the plain below Poppi, one of the most important battles of the Middle Ages, to which participated also Dante Alighieri: Florence against Arezzo, i.e. Guelphs against the Ghibellines. Two things must be seen in the castle: the Rilliana Library full of 25 thousand antique volumes, manuscripts and incunabula; and the fourteenth-century cycle of frescoes attributed to Taddeo Gaddi, a pupil of Giotto.

Discover the other villages on the guide Tuscany - Unique Villages to Love

• San Bullock: Patron saint's Day with festivities on the third Sunday after Easter.