Marzano Walk on the Tuscany Umbria Border

A Yellow Orchid At The Start Of The Marzano Walk on the Tuscany Umbria Border

Today I did my Marzano walk, a beautiful route through chestnut woods and along high ridges with fantastic views. You also pass the abandoned village of Marzano, high on an isolated Umbrian hillside.

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A Purple Orchid on the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border

Before we started the walk we visited the Madonna del Parto in Monterchi, Tuscany. It’s a beautiful painting of a heavily pregnant Madonna by the Renaissance painter and mathematician, Piero della Francesca. After viewing the painting and enjoying a cappucino in Monterchi, we set off in the car to the start of the walk. We drove past the village of Lippiano and started to climb towards the start.

Piero Della Francesca's Madonna Dell Parto, Monterchi, Tuscany

Marzano, despite being a collection of ruined buildings, has a brand new sign pointing up the track from the main road. After a few hundred metres’ steep climb we parked the car near some of the strangely shaped chestnut trees that are one of the features of this walk.

Pink Orchid at the Start of the Marzano Walk on the Tuscany Umbria Border

Right by the car there were hundreds of orchids; yellow, purple and pink altough they all seemed to be the same species.

The Climb at the Start of the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border

The walk starts off with a reasonably hard 20 minute climb through chestnut and oak woods. Soon you arrive at Corvo, usually there are great piles of logs here next to a weighbridge, today was no exception.

Logs on the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria

We started to climb once more to the top of Monte Pagliaolo, at around 1000m, we had climbed about 350m since the start. The views here were magnificent, we could see Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche. The ground all around at the summit was dotted with more colourful orchids.

The View at the Highest Point on the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border.

From the summit we descended to Osteria, once a stop for the many travellers who used these routes across the hills but now falling into ruin. The logs here made a good spot to stop and eat a picnic lunch.

Picnic Lunch on the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border

After lunch we began set off in the direction of Marzano, descending through a tunnel of oak trees. Soon we were at the ruined church, the first of the village’s buildings.

Ruined Church, Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border

We continued, passing more ruins, one must have been a very grand villa and it looks as if someone once started to shore up the structure with reinforced concrete. Now, signs tell you there is a danger of collapse, a little late as some of the walls have already started to go!

Ruin on the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border

There were more great views as the walk continued beyond Marzano, after a short climb we started to descend through oak woods.

View on the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border.

At a junction in the track, there is a large piles of stones, the story is that a man returning from the war died here, within sight of his home. He was buried where he was found and now every passer by throws a rock onto the pile.

Pile of Stones Marking a Grave. Marzano Walk Tuscany Umbria Border.

We descended steeply and then followed a contour along the side of the valley, it was damp here as many streams run down the side of the valley.

Chestnut Tree on the Marzano Walk, Tuscany Umbria Border.

Soon we were back in the chestnut trees and on the final stretch back to the car.

View From Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria

Afterwards we drove to nearby Monte Santa Maria Tiberina for a drink at the bar/restaurant Oscari. There are magnificent views across the countryside of Tuscany and Umbria from here.

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Tags: Guided, Hiking, Holiday, Italy, Self-guided, Tuscany, Umbria, Walking, Walks