Caprona: History, Hiking Trails and Landscape
Accommodation in Caprona
Caprona combines historic sites with trails and a landscape that allows for different ways of exploring the area. The Castello di Caprona is mentioned in the XXI canto of Dante’s Inferno. Dante Alighieri took part in the conquest of the Castello di Caprona on 16 August 1289. This gives the location a clear literary and historical connection, focused on a specific site and a precisely dated event.
Historic Fabric and Reconstruction
The Palazzo Luperi Centoni has medieval building fabric, but today presents an appearance dating from the 18th century. At the foot of the Torre degli Upezzinghi, the remains of the foundation of the medieval tower are still visible. The Torre degli Upezzinghi in Caprona is a 19th-century reconstruction of a watchtower. The history of the area thus brings together preserved historic fabric, visible foundation remains and a later reconstruction.
Sentieri da Caprona Hiking Trail
The Sentieri da Caprona hiking trail begins around the present-day Torre di Caprona and climbs uphill to the foot of the Verruca. It is of medium difficulty and involves approximately 500 metres of elevation gain and loss respectively. The route passes through Mediterranean garrigue and a holm oak forest. If you plan this hike, you can take the medium difficulty, the approximately 500 metres of elevation gain and loss respectively, and the change between garrigue and holm oak forest into account when assessing your fitness, travel pace and need for breaks.
A Combined Cycling and Walking Route
An 18-kilometre combined cycling and walking route leads from the Torre degli Upezzinghi in Caprona to the Rocca del Brunelleschi in Vicopisano. The route therefore combines two means of transport; for planning your day, you should take into account both the 18 kilometres and the change between cycling and walking.
Quarries, Views and Macchia
The quarries of Caprona form natural terraces at an elevated position and offer sweeping views across the Pisan plain as far as Livorno and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. Mediterranean macchia grows on limestone rock in Caprona. Elevated terraces, limestone rock and Mediterranean vegetation therefore shape a landscape impression that extends well beyond individual historic buildings.
Olive Pressing and Tasting
The local character of Caprona also includes the Cooperativa Oleificio sociale dei Monti Pisani. It offers olive pressing, tastings and the sale of products. This creates a direct connection to regional produce, complementing the historical and landscape impressions with a culinary dimension.
When choosing a hotel for your stay in Caprona, you can therefore focus your days on the themes available: historic sites, hiking with elevation gain, a combined cycling and walking route, quarry terraces with distant views or olive products.
For the broader travel overview: Vicopisano.
