|  Situated
just at a short distance from Florence, Mugello is a small
and unspoiled paradise (1667 sq mt) where every nook of land
shows an interplay between nature and art.
Its fifteen towns are distributed among three
distinct geographical areas: San Piero a Sieve, Vaglia, Scarperia
and Vicchio in Mugello; Palazzuolo sul Senio, Firenzuola and
Marradi in Upper Mugello; Dicomano, Londa, San Godenzo, Rufina,
Pelago and Pontassieve in Valdisieve. A whalebone fixed to
the facade of a house at Cafaggiolo - near the Medicean castle
– would prove that Mugello was formerly a salt lake,
stretching from Pratolino to Dicomano; its name ,"Mugello",
derives from that branch of the Ligurians known as "Magelli"
who were the first inhabitants of this valley, then followed
by the Etruscans and the Romans.
During the Middle Age Mugello was a manor,
and later on a possession of the Florentine Republic until
the Medicis – the powerful family that left a deep mark
on this territory – rose to power. Art, history, nature
and delcious food.
You can find traces of history worthy of a
great European capital. Along the river Sieve centres of ancient
origins and complex foundation rise at close distances.
Important Etruscan areas became a place of
settlements and villages in Roman times.
The Mediaeval Lordships the Guidi and the Ubaldini- were soon
in competition with the Commune of Florence which was expanding
and in search of "new lands". Starting in 1300 this
area went through a renewed period of a remarkable development
thanks to the particular strategic and economic value that
the Mugello Basin held for Florence.
The Medici family, originally came from this area and the
Lorenesi family made it their pride and joy by investing financial
resources to strengthen their presence around Florence.
Important buildings and fortresses, castles, villas and palaces
remain to testify the development of the Mugello.
The cultural and artistic history of Florence finds elements
of primacy importance for its development in this area.
Artists like Giotto and Beato Angelico were born here, famous
architects worked at the construction of the towns of the
"walled lands", the features in the landscape of
many Florentine paintings have found their inspiration here.
Territory
The territory of the Comunità Montana unites two geographic
areas: the Mugello and the Upper Mugello or Romagna-Tuscany.
The valley in the Mugello is a reference point to the Upper-Middle
part of the catchment basin of the river Sieve: it is a wide
bowl confined by the main watershed of the Apennines (from
Mount Citerna to Giogo di Villone) in the North, by the spurs
of Mount Giove and Mount Senario in the South.
Climate
The climate is a transition between the severe one of the
Padana Plain where the cold winds blow freely coming down
the Alps and the milder Mediterranean ones, typical of Central
Italy.
The Mugello basin, just below the higher passes of the mountain
chain is often a meeting point of cold North winds and humid
warm South-West, West, and South-East winds: this is the cause
of fog in Winter and the hot-damp weather in Summer.
Trekking in Mugello
Mugello offers many opportunities to take walks, make horseback
excursions and have mountain bike rides. here are some samples.
Main Route
BADIA DI MOSCHETA (Firenzuola) – CASAGLIA (Borgo S.
Lorenzo)
BADIA DI MOSCHETA – CASETTA DI TIARA
POGGIO RONCACCIO – SAMBUCA PASS
Difficult route; splendid setting in the "Valle dell’Inferno";
from the uphill path to the Roncaccio hill and from the track
along the mountain ridge (last stretch) spectacular views
over the region.
Lenght of walk: 6 hours Height variation: 650 m
Accessible from: Moscheta, Sambuca Pass
Secondary Route
AT THE ROVIGO RIVER SOURCE – FROM THE SAMBUCA PASS TO
CASAGLIA
Very panoramic route
Lenght of walk: 2 ½ hours Height variation: 90m
Accessible from: Sambuca Pass, Casaglia
Stopping place at the Casaglia "Rifugio"(in an ex-school)
 Mugello
International Racing Track
Built in the 70s and renovated at the end of the 80s by Ferrari
S.p.A., Mugello is currently one of the most appealing, striking
and safe track in the world. As a matter of fact, the origins
of this circuit date back to the car pioneering age, in 1914,
when the Mugello road track made its first appearance among
car races.
Enzo Ferrari too drove on the Mugello road
track. In the striking countryside of Tuscany, the Mugello
track provides the participants with modern and comfortable
premises. A large paddock is used during the courses for some
exercises of car control on the wet.
Main features of the track
Length 5.245 mt
Minimum width 9,60 mt
Straight stretch length 1.141 mt
No. of curves 15
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