The Appenninic Tosco-Emiliana crest that developsfrom the Alpi Apuane to S.Marino, characterized by woods of conifers, oaks, beeches, maples, etc. has created a particular charm on the spirits of the people who cares to natural beauties.
For this reason, we find many castles built on these valleys which weren’t just home for the warriors engaged in the defence of the territory, but also for illuminated souls that chose these places to sing the beauties of nature and to understandthevalues of the spirit.
Many Abbeys rose where men searchers of spiritual values enrichened with their pictoric works, sculptures and poetry, the people of our mountains, like the Abbey of Vallombrosa, Laverna, Camaldoli, Montesenario, Montepiano, dello Stale, della Abbadia, di Brento, di Monghidoro, etc..
The Emilia-Romagna and Toscana are regions strongly connected by a very solid joint based on commercial exchange, culture and politics.
For centuries, representatives of the nobility who governed this territory controlled the Appenninic passages and their valleys that linked the two regions.
To check better the traffics from one region to the other , many roads were built for traders, politicians, diplomats, armies.

Written for this site by Don Evaristo Stefanelli