Starting from the heart of the Casentino, the journey begins in Stia, a quaint and authentic village at the foot of Mount Falterona. Here, the most significant natural feature is its proximity to the headwaters of the Arno, which spring directly from the slopes of Mount Falterona: an almost symbolic place, where one of Italy’s most important rivers is still little more than a clear stream flowing through dense woods. In the surrounding area, the beech and fir forests of the Casentino National Park create one of the most pristine environments in the Apennines. The area is characterized by a strong artisanal tradition linked to wool processing. For centuries, Stia has been an important center for Casentino textiles: the famous “Casentino cloth,” with its slightly crinkled surface, originated right here and is still produced today by local manufacturers, demonstrating a continuity between the historical and contemporary economies. We recommend a visit to the fascinating Wool Museum.

Just a few kilometers away, Pratovecchio retains the same intimate atmosphere, but with a strong connection between nature and spirituality: nearby are symbolic sites such as the Hermitage of Camaldoli and La Verna, where art intertwines with the landscape and where a centuries-old tradition of monastic herbal and pharmaceutical production has flourished. Here, the silence of the woods becomes an integral part of the experience, almost an extension of the religious architecture. The woods surrounding the village are not only a natural heritage but also a resource: timber, chestnuts, and products from the undergrowth have sustained local life for centuries.

As you descend along the valley toward Castel San Niccolò, the landscape follows the Arno River as it winds through the countryside, while the small villages bear witness to a rural economy based on subsistence farming, stone masonry, and local crafts. Here, you can still find businesses engaged in traditional food processing: mills, cheese and cured meat production, often family-run. The integration of environment and work is evident: every natural resource is utilized without disrupting the balance of the land.

Once you reach Subbiano, the landscape changes: the valley opens up and the Arno becomes wider and flows more slowly. The riverbanks offer picturesque views, while from an artistic perspective, structures such as the Castle and the Romanesque parish churches scattered throughout the surrounding area stand out, notably the parish churches of Sietina and Socana. These buildings bear witness to a past linked to the control of the territory and the waterways. In this area, we find the traditional craft of metalworking, particularly wrought iron.

Leaving Subbiano, take a detour eastward through a hilly landscape that leads into the Valtiberina. Here, the landscape becomes gentler, with cultivated fields and scenic ridges.

The arrival in Sansepolcro marks the artistic highlight of the journey. Here, nature gives way to Renaissance harmony: the town is the birthplace of Piero della Francesca, and his works—housed in the Civic Museum—reflect precisely that balance of light, space, and proportion that echoes the landscapes traversed during the journey. Even the urban fabric, orderly and geometric, seems to mirror this vision. Cultural tourism, linked to the Renaissance artistic heritage, has become a fundamental component of the local economy.

The most captivating feature of this itinerary is the Arno River, which serves as its central thread: from its source in the forests to its gradual widening as it flows through the valley, it accompanies every stop like a natural guide. At the same time, art evolves: from the simple architecture of the mountain villages to the Renaissance perfection of Sansepolcro. It is a journey in which nature and culture do not alternate, but grow together, stop by stop.