An old railway line coming back to life in a new form, that of sustainable tourism. The “Railway Route – Sant’Ellero / Vallombrosa” project was created with the aim of recovering the historic rack and pinion track that once connected the Sant’Ellero station to the village of Vallombrosa, converting it back into a trail equipped for hikers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.
A green corridor to the Vallombrosa Reserve
The trail thus becomes a green corridor, connecting the Valdarno valley floor with the Vallombrosa Biogenetic Nature Reserve, turning into a true natural gateway to the forest. The trail, integrated into the CAI network, will be equipped with signage, viewpoints, rest areas and e-bike charging stations, making it accessible to a wide and varied public.
History and nature along the way
Among the main new features of the project is the installation of nine information panels, positioned at key points along the trail. These will offer historical insights, period images, elements of naturalistic knowledge and technical directions, enriching the user experience and making the trail a true cultural and narrative itinerary.
Intermodality and slow tourism
The project promotes a virtuous model of train + soft mobility intermodality: thanks to the proximity of the Sant’Ellero train station, it is possible to comfortably reach the start of the route from Florence and continue on foot or by bicycle, leaving the car at home. A smart and sustainable way to discover the area.
Access to the Vallombrosa Trail Area
Once you arrive in Vallombrosa, you directly access the Vallombrosa Trail Area, a system of 11 bicycle touring trails, the Silvomuseo trails, and the trekking trails maintained by the Carabinieri Forestali. The “Rail Trail” constitutes Trail 01 of the entire system: the backbone of a network that combines nature, history and sport.
A territorial regeneration project
This is an important territorial regeneration intervention, capable of relaunching Vallombrosa as a destination of excellence for cycling tourism, hiking and sustainable mobility in the heart of Tuscany.
