Length of walk: 6 km
Time needed: about 3 hours
Gradients: 135 m. uphill, 180 m. downhill

Map from the "Istituto Geografico Militare" - Authorization n. 4546 of 22-1-'97

This walk is a circular route that starts out from and returns to the "I Ponti" public gardens at Bagno a Ripoli. Climb up the gravel footpath from the car park in front of casa Torricella until you reach the outer limits of the gardens. Turn right along the path that runs along the back of the sports field and leads to what are now uncultivated fields. There is a fine view of the bell tower and the apse of the Parish Church of San Pietro a Ripoli from here. The path now rejoins the road that climbs up towards Poggio della Pievefrom the church. This ancient road soon enters the woods and, lined on either side with tall cypress trees, continues on up the hill. Take the second turning on the right, still through the woods, until the trees thin out, shortly afterwards, to give onto open fields. The road continues to rise and soon gives onto a lovely view over Sorgane, the Vale of Ripoli and Florence. The group of buildings that composes BelmonteBelmonte (a large villa and farmhouse) stands on the right at the top of the hill. Turn left here to head downhill towards the valley of Rio Torto. From here you can get some wonderful views over Poggio Baronti and Baroncelli with Monte Pilli in the distance.

The Church of Santa Maria at Quarto

At the bottom of the hill turn left into Via di Ritortoli and cross the road to turn right and uphill into Via dell'Eremo. The route climbs up the hill going past Villa Minervaand several other characteristic buildings that were once simple farmhouses. Just after Villa dell'Eremo, the road becomes a grassy path before it meets up again with Via di Baroncelli. Turn right along this road and continue past Villa la Colombaia until you come to the crossing marked by the large group of restructured buildings belonging to the podere Baroncelli (once known as San Ferdinando). The cart-track on the left winds through open fields on level ground until it arrives at the Centanni farmhouse; this is an ancient tower-house, once a "gentleman's residence" and later transformed into accomodation for farmworkers. Villa Prosperi, the restored farmhouse of La Croce (another ancient "gentleman's residence"), stands next door, hidden among the green trees of its garden. The Oratory of Santa Croce can instead be found in the village of Croce a Varliano. After crossing Via Roma, walk downhill along Via della Croce until you find Rimaggino, a minute hamlet characterized by several ancient washing troughs.

Broom in bloom in Spring on Monte Pilli

Continue along Via della Croce after crossing the bridge over the stream of Rimaggio. The Tabernacle of Rimaggino and Il Gello farmhouse can be found at the top of the hill, after which the road opens out into a wide area dominated by the facade of Villa Bellavista. Next turn left along Via di Vernalese and follow the winding road until you come to the village of Rimaggio, notable for its secular cypress tree, the "Cipressa", from which it takes its name. Turn left into Via di Quarto and start climbing up towards Villa Del Taglia. After reaching Rosai at the top, head downhill again towards Quarto, with its pretty church of Santa Maria overlooking the Plain of Ripoli. Keep on walking until you come to Via Fratelli Orsi; from here turn left towards the square which leads into Via Roma and from there to the Gardens and the end of this walk.