Chiusi della Verna
Chiusi della Verna is a small municipality in the province of Arezzo, in the heart of Casentino, Tuscany
Updated 19 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Chiusi della Verna now
The story
The story of Chiusi della Verna
A village among the Casentino mountains
Chiusi della Verna lies in the eastern part of the province of Arezzo, within the Casentino, the upper valley of the Arno river framed by the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The municipality sits close to the ridge dividing Tuscany from Emilia-Romagna, in a secluded, hilly setting away from mass tourism. The landscape alternates small hamlets, terraced fields and extensive woodland, forming a rural environment that has preserved a slow pace of life, closely tied to the mountains and the changing seasons.
History and origins
The origins of Chiusi della Verna date back to the Middle Ages, when the area was controlled by the Guidi counts and the Cattani family, local lords of the Casentino. It was Count Orlando Cattani who, in 1213, donated the mountain of La Verna to Francis of Assisi, beginning the Franciscan presence that would shape the history of the place forever. In later centuries the village grew around small rural settlements, keeping an agricultural and forestry vocation, while the nearby sanctuary became a pilgrimage destination known across Europe.
Nature and landscape
Much of the municipal territory lies within the Casentinesi Forests, Mount Falterona and Campigna National Park, one of the best-preserved forest environments in the Italian Apennines. Centuries-old beech woods, fir stands and chestnut groves cover the slopes around Monte Penna, alternating with clearings, springs and small streams flowing down toward the Arno valley. This natural heritage shelters diverse wildlife, including deer, roe deer and numerous birds of prey, and offers a landscape that changes dramatically with the seasons, from autumn colours to the snow-covered winter silence.
What to do and see
The heart of the tourist offer in Chiusi della Verna is the Sanctuary of La Verna, a Franciscan complex built around the rock where Francis of Assisi received the stigmata, with churches, chapels and frescoed corridors open to visitors. Around the sanctuary, a dense network of hiking trails crosses the national park, suitable for both short walks and more demanding routes toward the Apennine peaks. The village's small historic centre, with its stone houses, invites quiet strolls, while panoramic viewpoints across the territory offer wide views over the Casentino valley.
Flavours and traditions
The cuisine of Chiusi della Verna reflects its mountain and forest vocation: chestnuts, gathered in the surrounding woods, are the stars of flours, desserts and traditional autumn dishes. Porcini mushrooms, chestnut honey and mountain-pasture cheeses complete a simple, genuine table, often accompanied by cured meats and other local produce. Religious traditions linked to the sanctuary, with moments of prayer and celebrations marking the calendar year, intertwine with the rural customs of Casentino, in a balance between spirituality and country life that still characterises the local community today.
Not to be missed
- The Sanctuary of La Verna, site of Saint Francis' stigmata
- The trails of the Casentinesi Forests National Park
- The village's small historic centre
- The views from Monte Penna over the Casentino valley
- Forest products: chestnuts, mushrooms and local honey
To see
What to see in Chiusi della Verna
Routes · Trovido Route
