The Abbey of Farneta

The guided tour we offer is held in Farneta, a hamlet located about 15 kilometers away from Cortona, renowned for the beautiful Abbey of Farneta, an old Benedictine church dating back to the 9th-10th century A.D. and a masterpiece of Pre-Romanesque architecture that is lovely nestled in the luxuriant countryside of Valdichiana.

Upon request, the tour may continue with a visit of the Museum of Farneta, which is situated only a few steps from the abbey, the so-called Mo.Pa (Mostra Paleontologica di Farneta - Paleontological Exhibition), where an interesting collection of fossilized remains of animals that lived in the Valdichiana valley in the Early Pleistocene, in prehistoric times, is on display. The fossils of big mammals such as huge elephants and hippopotamuses, which were living in the Farneta area about a million of years ago, are particularly significant.

It will also be possible to combine upon request the visit of the Abbey and the Museum of Farneta with a lovely walk in the footsteps of elephants along the Paleontological Fossiliferous Route that, starting from the museum, runs through the surrounding smooth hilly countryside in order to explore the area where the fossils were found. The hiking route will allow you to enjoy the enchanting beauty of these places, which are really interesting in terms of landscape features and naturalistic value.

Finally, it will also be possible to add a pecorino cheese, extra-virgin olive oil and wine tasting experience at some local farms.

Duration:

A guided tour of the Abbey of Farneta and the Mo.Pa museum (about 2 hours), plus the Paleontological Route (about 4 hours).

Difficulty:

Easy hiking route of about 5 kilometers that takes about 1 hour/1 hour and a half.

What you are going to see:

the Abbey of Farneta, the Mo.Pa Museum (Mostra Paleontologica di Farneta), the Paleontological Fossiliferous Route.