Rovaci: Landscapes, Culture and Trails of the Montagna Pistoiese

Rovaci is a rural settlement in the agroforestry sub-area of the Montagna Pistoiese and is located in the municipality of Marliana. Marliana lies where the Valdinievole meets the Pistoia Mountains. The hills around Marliana include gentle slopes planted with vines and olive trees. When choosing a hotel for your trip to Italy, you can consider Rovaci as a rural destination and weigh the landscape, culture and activities together in your decision.

Landscape and Activities

A mountain-bike route through the Marliana area passes through the Montagnana forest and by medieval walls at the entrance to the village. If you would like to combine cycling with landscape and history, this route includes both the Montagnana forest and the medieval walls at the village entrance.

The Anello 2 – Sentiero della pietra loop is 20.6 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 793 metres and is rated difficult. These three details help you include the route as a challenging option in your plans. Its length, elevation gain and rating describe its extent, ascent and difficulty. This allows you to consider the loop separately from the mountain-bike route without equating the two routes.

The nearby peaks around Rovaci include Monte Bersano and Poggiobello. The peaks of le Piaggete and Monte Tagliola are also located around Rovaci. If you include mountain landscapes in your travel plans, you can consider the four peaks individually.

Culture and History

The old Church of San Leonardo stands in the fortified village of Serra Pistoiese. On the southeastern slope of Serra Pistoiese lie the ruins of the ancient Pieve di Sant'Andrea di Furfalo, known as La Pievaccia. In Emperor Otto III's diploma from 998, it appears as Plebs de Furfalo and is listed among the churches under the authority of the Bishop of Pistoia. This means that the area offers a church, ruins and a historic written record.

In the municipality of Marliana, the Museum of Peasant Culture displays old agricultural tools, including a chaff cutter, a seed drill and a plough, some of which are still operational. The Museo dell'Ospedale del Ceppo, the Oltre Museum, the Museo dell'Antico Ospedale Del Ceppo and the Museo Civico Pistoia are also located around Rovaci. If you organise your trip around interests in regional history and museums, you will find several different starting points here.

Local Traditions and Cuisine

In Momigno, a craftsman makes the stone slabs used to prepare Necci by hand. Necci are flatbreads made from chestnut flour. The Cantar Maggio takes place every year in the municipality of Marliana. The local population performs traditional songs and dances there, and food-related activities are also part of the event. For you, these offer two different ways to experience the area: a direct connection to a regional dish and an annual event featuring music, dance and food.

More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also consider Goraiolo, Momigno, Montagnana and Avaglio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Marliana.