Casentino Valley, Taste Trails

The Casentino Taste Trail Tour is a territorial project and an itinerary that winds for about 200 kilometres, from deep in the valleys of the Casentino, through mountains, castles, parks, forests, farms that highlights, above all, extraordinary agricultural products, which are the result of the experience and labor of many: producers of cheese, honey, ham, chestnuts, potatoes, hog breeders (the “Grigio” or 'grey' local hogs of the Casentino area).

 

In addition to the producers, the project was organized with the participation of restaurants, tourist farms, cultural associations and many others, who are representatives of this land. Its aim is to give the proper image of a unique rural area that is productive and rich in traditions.

Traditional products
Casentino Pecorino cheese - The main feature of these is the aroma of herbs and mountain flowers that can be tasted, through the cheese's milk, in the finished product. Casentino pecorino can be consumed fresh or aged. From a nutritional viewpoint, it contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates and calcium. Traditionally served with pears and bread, it is also delicious with honey.

Red Cetica potatoes - Among the main products of the Casentino area, an important place is occupied by the famous red potato of Cetica, known since the early years of the 20th century. This tuber is of moderate size, round, with compact white pulp and veins of pick. This potato, with its particular organoleptic and sensorial characteristics, is ideal in the preparation of traditional dishes, like potato tortelli, “tortelli alla lastra” and gnocchi, where their pronounced, unique flavour can best be enjoyed.

Casentino grey hogs - The Casentino area is resuming an ancient tradition of breeding the local hog species (the famous “Grigio”, which had been lost). The animals are free ranging and their diet consists of natural vegetable products and feed. The breed is particularly suited to mountain pastures and the Casentino hills. Its meat is very tasty and it is used in the production of salami and ham.

Taste Trails of the Casentino
Piazza Amerighi, 1
52014 Poppi (Ar)
Tel/ Fax +39 0575 502231
www.stradasaporicasentino.it
e-mail: stradasapori@casentino.toscana.it

The Casentino also boasts a vast network of museum and culture centers dedicated to food and the history of the area. Below is the contact information for each:

Ecomuseum of the Casentino
Contact: Mountain Community of the Casentino
Servizio CRED - Centro Servizi Rete Ecomuseale
Via Roma, 203 - Ponte a Poppi
Tel. 0575 507272-72
www.ecomuseo.casentino.toscana.it
email: ecomuseo@casentino.toscana.it

Museum of the Woods and Mountains
Vicolo de’ Berignoli, Stia
Contact:Sci Club Stia, tel. 0575 581323-583965-529263
Opening hours: 

Documentary exhibit on the historic wool mill of Stia “Luigi Lombard”
Via Sartori,1 - Stia
Contact: Fam. Grisolini tel. 0575582685

Ecomuseum of coal workers and memorial of Porto Franco “Giuseppe Baldini” - “Casa dei sapori”
Loc. La Chiesa, Cetica,
Castel San Niccolò
Contact:
Pro Loco “I Tre Confini” tel. 0575 555280 - 333 1432812 
Bar Favilli tel. 0575 555019 - Bar La Porta tel. 0575 555124
Opening hours: 
June  to September: Saturday and Sunday; Oct to May, Saturday and Sunday

Documentation Centre on the Castellana Civilization 
Borgo del castello di S. Niccolò,
Strada in Casentino - Castel San Niccolò
Contact:
Municipality of Castel San Niccolò
Tel. 0575 570255
Castello di San Niccolò Sig. Giovanni Biondi tel. 0575 572961

Castle of the Guidi di Poppi Counts 
Contact: tel. 0575 502220-520516. 
Open every day, from 10am to 6pm; longer hours in the summer 

Bottega del bigonaio
Loc. Moggiona, Poppi
Contact: Pro Loco Moggiona tel. 3343050985

Archeological Museum of the Casentino
Loc. Partina, Bibbiena
Contact: Municipality of Bibbiena, tel. 0575 593791
Coop. OROS, tel. 0575 559447 - 0575 559477
July and August, Saturday and Sunday: 10:30am-12.30pm/4pm-6pm. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 4pm-6pm
June-September: Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10:30am- 12.30pm/16.00-18.00; October - May, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 4pm-6pm

Casa Rossi Rural Collection
Via Nazionale, 32 - Soci, Bibbiena
Contact: Fam. Rossi, tel. 0575 560034

Ecomuseum of the Chestnut
Via del Mulino, Raggiolo, Ortignano Raggiolo
Contact: Municipality of Ortignano Raggiolo, tel. 0575 539214
La Brigata di Raggiolo, tel. 0575 514147

Ecomuseum of gun powder and contraband
Chitignano, Loc. San Vincenzo
Contact: Municipality of Chitignano, tel. 0575 596713- Circolo Legambiente-Asqua, Molino delle Cortine, tel. 0575 519091 - 333 6855290

Documentation Centre of Rural Culture of the Casentino “Paese laboratorio” - Carda
Torre di Ronda, Castel Focognano
Contact: Custode Torre di Ronda, tel. 0575 592020 - Municipality of Castel Focognano, Culture Office 0575 51541 - Ass. Carda Viva, tel. 0575 532832 - 339 3914495

Museum House of Guido Monaco and Documentation Centre of Medieval Music
Loc. La Castellaccia, Talla
Contact: Municipality of Talla, tel. 0575 597512 - Pro Loco “Guido Monaco”, tel. 338 3573501. Opening hours: June 16 to Sept 30, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 4pm-6pm; Sept 30 / Oct 1 / June 15, Saturday and Sunday, 4pm - 6pm

Museum of the Rural House
Loc. Castelnuovo, Subbiano
Contact: Municipality of Subbiano, tel. 0575 423931
Sig. Del Pasqua, tel. 349 8542245.
Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday, 3pm-7pm

Dpcumentation Centre on the Archeological Culture of the Area 
Via Arcipretura, 43 - Subbiano
Contact: Gruppo Archeologico Giano, tel. 338 3321499
Orari di apertura: Sunday, 10.30am - 12.30pm (August excluded)

Documentation and Didactic Centre of Water  
Loc. La Nussa, Capolona
Contact: Municipality of Capolona, tel. 0575 423931

To visit water mills in the area, contact:
Mills of Falciano (still active) Subbiano
Sig. Mattesini, tel. 0575 7422138 - 335 5863158

Mulino Grifoni (ancora produttivo) di Pagliericcio (Castel San Niccolò)
0575 572873

Mill of Bonano (still active), Castel Focognano, Fam. Bardelli tel. 0575 597465

Mill of Bucchio, Stia. Fam. Bucchi, tel. 0575 582680