The Natural Area
—Inside thee Balze
An Enchantment of Flora, Fauna and Fossils
Immerse yourself in the Balze of Valdarno, where nature and history intertwine in a fascinating mosaic of life. This corner of the world tucked between ridges and pinnacles of land is a veritable treasure trove of biodiversity, where every nook and cranny encompasses a unique micro-environment, from heathland to woodland, from cultivated fields to uncultivated meadows. But it is the fauna here that steals the show: owls, tawny owls, hawks and even the mysterious bats have made these caves their home, while foxes and porcupines hide in the shadows of the paths.
Walking among the pebbles of the crags, you will find yourself on a geological time machine, full of Pleistocene artefacts: evidence of an era when the area teemed with tropical life. The Valdarno is a natural cathedral for lovers of palaeontology, a site of inestimable scientific value that tells stories of a time when mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers dominated the scene.
Today, those same prehistoric paths are trodden by roe deer, hares and pheasants, while the tracks of foxes and badgers invite a more intimate discovery of nature. The high walls of sediment protect this landscape from intensive agriculture: you can discover the essence of the traditional countryside, where the zolfino bean and the Cinta Senese pig are cultivated and reared following ancient rhythms and methods.
A visit to the Balze del Valdarno is not only a journey through fauna and flora: it is an immersion in an uncontaminated ecosystem, an authentic culinary experience and a reflection on mysteries still waiting to be revealed. Each path invites you to discover a new perspective, a new story, in this landscape where silence envelops a nature as real as it is magical.
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—Natural palettes
The Secret Flora of the Valdarno Crags
The Balze of Valdarno offer themselves to visitors in two extraordinary natural palettes. The first, hidden between the ancient Setteponti road and the erosion canals, is a patchwork of olive groves and vineyards, with scattered patches of arable land. Let yourself be seduced by the wild scrubland, where plums and dog roses, loaded with vitamins, are natural dispensaries for the local animals. Then there are the cistus and broom, with their sunny yellow blossoms, and the hawthorn, guardian of boundaries and secrets with its protective thorns.
Venturing further into the second area, you will discover broadleaf forests dancing along the erosion channels: downy oaks, alders and poplars. You will meet the willow and cat tree, pioneers of spring, which awaken in February when everything else is asleep. Mulberry trees tell stories of a silky past near the farmhouses, while chestnut trees take over in the cooler areas, adding a touch of majesty to the landscape.
Here, the elderberry weaves black crowns of berries loved by birds, and the vitalba soars skyward. Don’t miss the ivy, fragrant honeysuckle, rare hops and field elm, witnesses of a nature that endures. And how can we not pay homage to the cypress tree, icon of the Tuscan landscape, whose elegant silhouette marks boundaries and paths?
Every step in the Balze del Valdarno is an encounter with a biodiversity that tells the story of a rich and living land. A journey that not only enchants the eyes but nourishes the soul.
