Monte Morello, Mountain summit in Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy
Monte Morello is a mountain in the Metropolitan City of Florence with three named peaks: Poggio all'Aia, Poggio Casaccia, and Poggio Cornacchiaia, and its slopes are covered by oak forests, chestnuts, black pines, and white firs. It sits directly north of the city of Florence, making it one of the few forested mountains within easy reach of an Italian regional capital.
The Romans referred to this mountain as Mons Maurillus, and its name appeared in written records from 790 during the Lombard period. The name is thought to come from an early landowner who once held property in the area.
The Parish Church of Sant'Andrea in Cercina sits on the slopes and holds religious artworks from the medieval period. It remains a gathering point for nearby communities, showing how closely the people of this area have been connected to this mountain for centuries.
Several marked trails lead to the summit and are suited to different fitness levels, from gentle walks to more demanding ascents. Some of the paths have information panels about the local environment, which makes the walk educational as well as physical.
Despite being so close to the city of Florence, the mountain is home to wild boar, deer, and wolves living in the same forests. The presence of wolves this near a major city is uncommon in Italy and points to how dense the tree cover has remained over time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
