(Divento dolce nel nome di Poppi, divento come fanciulla)
- Latin inscription in the stone of the gateway to the town of Poppi
Today we came to Poppi and Bibbiena, the most important towns of the Casentino area. And we have a local guide with us! Sara's friend Federico met us in Prato di Strada, where he grew up and still lives in a house on the hillside above the village. We crossed the town and disturbed the local priest to ask him to open the doors of the church of San Martino in Vado so we could see the bosco di pietra, the forest of stone: the capitals of the columns carved with highly detailed images of plants, animals and humans.
From Strada in Casentino we then crossed back over the bridge and climbed the hill to the castle of Casté San Niccolòand the cluster of medieval houses around it, then higher still, where the trail plunged into thick vegetation and gorse bushes in bloom before descending into the farmland of the valley on the other side of the hill.
We crossed the valley and climbed to the hilltop town of Poppi. Under the control of the Guidi family, the town was of great military importance for the defence of Florence against the Longobard and Frank tribes before the year 1000, when the castle was first erected, and subsequently in the rivalry between Florence and Arezzo. It was an iron-working centre supplying the city of Florence as well as a military garrison.
After a picnic lunch in front of the castle above the town centre of Poppi, we descended to cross the bridge over the Arno and then followed the cycling and footpath along the river to Bibbiena, where we have rented an apartment for the night. Federico showed us around town and took us for a beer at his favourite bar, followed by pizza on a patio with a view of the sun setting over the mountains.
Prato di Strada - Bibbiena 21 km
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