Le Balze del Valdarno: the “Grand Canyon” of Tuscany

The Balze del Valdarno are one of the most beautiful and spectacular landscapes in Tuscany. With their sand walls rising up to 100 meters high, their spires, and canyons, they conjure a landscape worthy of the American Wild West. It is no coincidence that Leonardo da Vinci was so fascinated by them that he chose them as the background for his famous painting, the Mona Lisa.

The Balze are situated between the municipalities of Terranova Bracciolini, Loro Ciuffenna, and Castelfranco Piandiscò and are natural formations that seem to have been sculpted by an artist. The slow retreat of ancient lake waters created a unique landscape in Italy that is today recognized as a geological heritage of enormous value.

The Valdarno was once a large lake, but today there is no trace of it. Walking along the trails of the Balze is an immersive experience amidst deep canyons and small green oases. The yellow of the broom and the red of the poppies will make the experience complete. Photography lovers will find spectacular views over the Arno Valley and the surrounding hills, and along the trails, there are also ancient villages and mills that add a touch of history to an already magnificent landscape.

The Balze del Valdarno are also a cultural memory, as Tuscan farmers learned to coexist here, and traces of their daily life remain. Visiting the Balze means immersing yourself in a less crowded Tuscany, far from the usual tourist spots. Go there, and you will understand that it never ceases to amaze.

Photo credits: Emiliano Burzagli - licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.