Sansepolcro a town the foot of the Tuscan Apennines in the province of Arezzo is on the border between four regions - Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria and Marche. Art and history blend with nature in villages and parks, protected areas and reserves, and bike and trekking routes wind through the valley, unique for their natural beauty. A new project, which will come to fruition in the coming months, will boost the number of biking paths in the valley as well as offering a series of new services.
A scenic cycling trail and local fauna
One of the best-loved trails leads from Sansepolcro to the Montedoglio Dam on the Tiber river, passing through the historic villages of Pieve Santo Stefano, Anghiari and Caprese Michelangelo. Forty kilometres of inclines and descents with stunning views of rolling hills and chances to spot local fauna like mallards, teals, loons, herring gulls and cormorants.
Bicycle rental services
The Alpe della Luna Nature Reserve winds its way through the charming Tuscan villages of Pieve Santo Stefano, Badia Tedalda, Sansepolcro and Sestino. One of the most beautiful routes to discover by mountain bike starts from Sansepolcro, crosses the reserve and ends in Germagnano. From here there are many paths around the area and the Germagnano Farm offers bicycle rental services as well as short excursions on donkey-back.
The Way of St. Francis
The area’s reserves and parks are crossed by kilometers of trekking routes some of which retrace ancient Roman and Medieval ways and old transhumance roads. One of the most evocative routes on the Way of St. Francis is from Sansepolcro to the hermitage of Montecasale: seven kilometres along the Afra river, passing cultivated fields and ancient farmhouses. On foot it takes about two hours from the village where Piero della Francesca was born, the ascent to the suggestive limestone cliff offering stunning views, while fallow and roe deer inhabit the green woods and majestic golden eagles and sparrow hawks soar overhead.
