Poppi: Fortress, Churches and Casentino Culture

Poppi between Fortress and Casentino Culture

Castello dei Conti Guidi is a medieval fortress in Casentino, Tuscany, built in the 12th century. The castle houses the Biblioteca Rilliana, with more than 25,000 volumes, including medieval manuscripts and incunabula. A guided tour of the fortress lasting approximately one hour may include the interior spaces, including the chapel, prisons, bell tower and grand halls. The approximate tour duration makes this part of the visit easy to schedule and plan separately.

Sacred Art and Historic Buildings

Abbazia di San Fedele is a Romanesque church in Poppi. It was founded in the 10th century as the Benedictine abbey of Strumi and relocated within the walls of Poppi in the 12th century. Its crypt contains the mortal remains of Blessed Torello da Poppi. The furnishings include paintings by Jacopo Ligozzi and a 14th-century crucifix attributed to Giotto.

Propositura dei Santi Marco e Lorenzo combines the 13th-century Pieve di San Marco with the older Priorie di San Lorenzo, which was incorporated in 1784. The church contains late Baroque altars and paintings by Francesco Morandini, known by the nickname il Poppi, and Jacopo Ligozzi. The Oratorio della Madonna del Morbo, also known as Chiesa della Madonna del Morbo, is also located in the center. Built between 1651 and 1659, the sacred building is hexagonal; its dome has a scale-patterned covering on the outside and a starry-sky motif inside.

Historic Center and Routes through Poppi

Porta a Fronzola, now also known as Porta Santi di Cascese, was built in 1261 and offers views over the Casentino Valley. QR codes and an audio guide lead visitors through the old streets of Poppi's historic center. The audio guide and the QR codes are two different forms of assistance for the walk through the old streets.

Ecomuseo and Seasonal Experiences

Poppi is home to the Ecomuseo del Casentino, a museum system spread across the area that documents and promotes the region's historical, artistic, natural and cultural, and craft heritage. The seasonal program includes cultural walks, tastings, educational workshops, theater performances and film screenings. Its distribution across the area means that the Ecomuseo is not concentrated in a single location.

Casentino's Forests, Wildlife and Cuisine

The chestnut, beech, oak and fir forests of Casentino are part of the natural heritage of Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi. Parco Zoo della Fauna Europea di Poppi covers approximately 50 hectares. Casentino's regional cuisine, which is associated with Poppi, includes truffles, mushrooms, chestnuts, potato tortelli, cheese, cured meats and ham from Casentino. Casentino cuisine combines truffles, mushrooms and chestnuts with potato tortelli, cheese, cured meats and ham.

More Destinations for Your Trip Planning

If you would like to continue exploring beyond Poppi, you can also visit the pages for Badia Prataglia and Camaldoli.

For the overview of the wider destination: Arezzo.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Stia, Montevarchi, Montebenichi, Toppole, Manzi, Chiusi Della Verna.