San Casciano in Val di Pesa in Tuscany

San Casciano in Val di Pesa

San Casciano in Val di Pesa

What to see and do in San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Tuscany, Italy

San Casciano Val di Pesa
San Casciano Val di Pesa

San Casciano is a small town and also a county on the north-western border of the Chianti Classico area of Tuscany. It can be reached by bus from central Florence in half an hour. Its full name is San Casciano in Val di Pesa, indicating that it is located near the valley of the Pesa river.

San Casciano in Val di Pesa
A view of San Casciano in Val di Pesa and its main gate from the water tower

The town itself merits a short visit – there are a number of interesting churches and a museum of sacred art. The surrounding territory is packed with historical villas of enormous interest. Among them are Castle Bibbione, Villa le Corti, Villa Borromeo and Albergaccio Machiavelli, located in in Sant’Andrea in Percussina and the country home of Niccolò Machiavelli during his exile from Florence after the Medici restoration of 1512. Here he wrote both The Prince and The Discourses as well as other works. The house is attached to the osteria described so often by Machiavelli in his letters. Both the house and the osteria may be visited.

Machiavelli's desk in his study at his Albergaccio
Machiavelli’s desk in his study at his Albergaccio

The village of Mercatale lies within the county of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, and near it are two noteworthy castles: Castello di Gabbiano and Castello Il Palagio.

How to get to San Casciano in Val di Pesa

The bus route between San Casciano in Val di Pesa and Florence is served by Busitalia (formerly SITA)/Autolinee Chianti Valdarno pullman coaches. In Florence, the SITA bus terminal is located round the corner from SMN railway station. The departure and arrival terminal in San Casciano is just below Viale Corsini and you can use the lift or the stairs to ascend to central San Casciano.

Bus time Tables:

Lines 368 and 370 Poggibonsi, Tavarnelle, Montefiridolfi, Mercatale, San Casciano, Firenze.
Lines 371 and 372 Marcialla, Tavarnelle, San Casciano, Cerbaia, Scandicci, Firenze.

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