Top Ten Italy Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

Sandwiched between Emilia and Tuscany lies Italy's green heart. Casentino Forest is a haven for peace and meditation. The area is covered with big white firs that are sacred to the monks and hermits who have lived here since the Middle Ages. The monks have preserved the forest, forbidding anyone from cutting down trees and this large territory is now a national park, home to deer, wild hogs, and some wolves. Many trails, all quite easy and level, cross the forest and can be traveled on foot, mountain bike, or horseback, or on skis in winter. The waterfall Aquacheta and the monastery of Camaldoli are worth a visit. On the south end of the park is Verna, the bare mountain that was chosen by St. Francis as the site on which to build a monastery. The monastery has accommodations for travelers.