Itineraries in the heart of the Valdambra

A welcoming land that of the Valdambra nestled between the Chianti mountains and the Upper Valdarno crossed by the Ambra river, a valley suitable for those who love walking to discover a natural, cultural, historical, artistic and food and wine heritage, immersed in a nature in which the for centuries man has integrated himself by modeling the many forms of the landscape, in deep respect and bond with his own land.
So walk with that spirit of those who want to know and discover, savoring the taste of tranquility, a land and its culture. And so, itinerary after itinerary, the numerous castles of Valdambra will reveal their ancient past, from that of Montebenichi, to those of Cennina and Rapale from the splendid tower of Galatrona to what remains of the fortifications of Ambra and Castiglione Alberti.
Step by step we will be able to enter places of faith such as the abbeys of Badia a Ruoti and Badia Agnano and the ancient parish churches of Galatrona and Santa Maria in Altaserra. We will cross small villages immersed in the green of woods, vineyards and olive groves, such as San Leolino and Duddova, and we will stop in silence in the places of memory or we will stop amazed at the foot of an ancient tree.
Itineraries and paths for everyone , habitual and trained walkers, but also people who choose for the first time to get up and walk, because in the end "Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation: it is a training of the heart and soul to humanity "(Gary Snider).

All the itineraries are easily accessible also on horseback and by mountain bike.

La Valdambra, an open-air museum of nature and culture

Our holiday homes are located in the village of Cennina, in the heart of Tuscany, between Arezzo, Siena and Firenze. Our valley, the Valdambra, is one of the most beautiful valleys in Tuscany, and is rich in history, art and nature.
It has preserved intact woods for centuries, expanses of cultivated fields with farmhouses scattered here and there, vineyards and olive groves lying on the slopes. There are also many small villages that are worth a visit and in the summer, every weekend, they host nice village festivals with excellent cuisine.

In the heart of Tuscany

The Valdambra occupies a central position that allows you to quickly and easily reach the most fascinating destinations in Tuscany.
A freeway connects it in half an hour to Siena, the splendid city of the Palio. Nearby are Monteriggioni with its walls, San Gimignano with its towers and San Galgano which preserves the mysterious "sword in the stone".
Continuing south from Siena, you can reach our coast in an hour: the Tuscan sea has always been one of the cleanest in Italy, and you are spoiled for choice between the medieval Castiglione della Pescaia, the well-equipped Marina di Grosseto or the wild Parco della Maremma, a natural reserve. The same highway leads in the other direction to Cortona, an ancient Etruscan city, to Montepulciano , city of noble wine, and then to Perugia and Assisi, city of San Francesco.
In half an hour by car you can also reach Arezzo, a city famous for its paintings by Piero della Francesca and for the Oscar-winning film "Life is beautiful" by Roberto Benigni. Venturing a little further, in the mountains of the Casentino, you will find the santuario della Verna, founded by St. Francis of Assisi, and the hermitage of Camaldoli.
Firenze, can be easily reached in an hour by train from the nearby Bucine station, without having to struggle to enter the city by car and look for a parking space.
But in Tuscany the journey is often beautiful, not just the destination: this is why we suggest to our guests some itineraries along roads with little traffic, which cross small villages, isolated parish churches in the countryside, skirting vineyards, olive groves and wheat fields. A few minutes from Valdambra is the heart of Chianti, an area famous for its wine, a little further south are the Crete Senesi and Valdorcia, while to the east are the prosperous Valdichiana and the Lake Trasimeno.

Rapolano thermal baths
Relaxing and pleasant baths in the hot water of Rapolano's sulphurous springs (15min from Ambra), an excellent alternative to the swimming pool in low season:
Terme Antica Querciolaia
Terme San Giovanni

Our spring waters
Our precious waters have immediate therapeutic properties, recognized with a decree of the Ministry of Health, on various systems, including the respiratory and muscular systems.
That's why choosing a relaxing day enjoying the STR pools means performing a real act of love, with quickly perceptible effects.

Horse riding
Equestrian center Cavalli Naturalmente Pieve a Presciano
On horseback in Tuscany. A unique experience is what you will find in the small town of Naturally, which rises in a clearing in the wood of Pieve a Presciano, a delightful hamlet of Pergine Valdarno.

Courses of Horse riding and horse trekking (10min from Ambra)

Every day high level training and competitions at the Polo Club Villa a Sesta (5min from Ambra)

Bike routes
Here you will find beautiful bike rides for all levels . Click here

Wine shops
Here are some wineries that are located a few minutes from Ambra, where you can taste the best wines of the Chianti Classico area, in places of great charm and with the possibility of buying at reduced prices:
Brolio Castle
Felsina
Villa a Sesta

Adventure Park
Paths among the trees for adults and children at the Saltalbero adventure park in Rapolano (15min from Ambra)