Badia Prataglia is a small town located on the north-eastern edge of the Casentino valley, on the border between Tuscany and Romagna. Its territory falls entirely within the National Park of the Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna. Its history has, until recently, been strongly influenced by the Patgliesi and Camaldolesi monks, and by the relationship they have gradually established with the forest that surrounds the village.

What to see in Badia Prataglia?
Badia Prataglia has a particularly unique urban structure, made up of small inhabited centres called Castelletti that are scattered a short distance from each other amongst the chestnut and fir woods. Today, the Castelletti are connected to each other by a path, accompanied by descriptive panels bringing visitors closer to the area’s traditions, history, and memories.

There are two interesting places encompassing the world of trees and forests.

The Forestry Museum, dedicated to the Bohemian forest engineer Karl Siemon, was set up to administer the area’s forests by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II in 1837. Here, you will be able to discover everything about the Casentinesi Forests and the history of forestry work, alongside enlarged images of the Appenines’ flora and fauna, a model of the geology of the territory, reconstructions of natural environments and finds of Apennine mammals.

Next to the museum is the Arboreto Carlo Siemoni. Planted halfway through the 19th century by Siemon, it is the oldest arboretum in Italy, and was created as a site for the experimentation and acclimatisation of exotic and native forest species and of numerous centuries-old trees. The arboretum extends across 3 hectares and is home to 139 tree species from numerous moderate-climate countries. “Legendary” trees take up residence here, such as giant Californian sequoias and Cryptomeria, the holy Japanese tree whose prized wood is used to build Shinto temples.

Nearby
Visiting the Badia Prataglia area means exploring the Casentino territory and its Foreste Casentinesi National Park, one of the most untouched forests in all of Italy. The park stretches out over about 37,000 hectares and vaunts more than 600 kilometres of hiking trails, 20 mountain biking routes, 9 nature paths and 2 routes suitable for the blind and for those with mobility issues.

From Badia Prataglia, you can explore numerous interesting and fascinating destinations, whether natural or historical, artistic or religious, such as the Camaldoli Monastery and the Santuario della Verna.