Walking in Vinci: the Strada Verde (Green Road) - Trail n.14

Once called Via Botanica, the Strada Verde was a very important main road regulating commercial trades, leading directly from Vinci to the Pistoian side and the Prato plain, passing by the Montalbano. 

Illustrious figures such as Giuseppe Garibaldi, Telemaco Signorini and Gustavo Uzielli have walked along the Strada Verde, which today follows for the most part the ancient medieval route. Walking along this trail means not only being surrounded by that nature that Leonardo saw with his own eyes but also retracing centuries of history and identifying with thousands of persons who crossed this path.

The route starts just outside the hamlet walls, near the Pinetina della Doccia and continues through wonderful olive tree groves, until it reaches the birthplace of Leonardo, located about 2km away from the start of the route. You can proceed in the direction of Santa Lucia and reach, with a walk of approximately 2 hours, the village of Faltognano.

Along the trail you find

• The Parco Acquaria, an actual 4000sqm hill of art wher you can admire some green installations, including the Vineyard of Leonardo
• The Pescaia, a 15th century terraced stone structure which used to regulate the flow of water to the canal that powered the Mulino della Doccia mill
• The exhibition area Leonardo and Painting, housed inside the historic Villa il Ferrale, which presents high resolution and life-size reproductions of all of Leonardo's paintings and the Birthplace of Leonardo
• The Faltognano Holly Oak, a secular tree entered in the register of Tuscany's monumental trees, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Pisan Mounts, the Apuan Alps, the Arno river plain and, on a clear day, the Leghorn harbour and the Gorgona island