Laterina Pergine Valdarno
Laterina Pergine Valdarno is a municipality in the province of Arezzo, created in 2019 from the merger of Laterina and Pergine Val...
Updated 19 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Laterina Pergine Valdarno now
The story
The story of Laterina Pergine Valdarno
A town in the heart of the Valdarno
Laterina Pergine Valdarno lies in the province of Arezzo, in the area known as the upper Arno valley, the stretch of countryside the Arno river crosses between Arezzo and Florence. Born from the merger of the two former municipalities of Laterina and Pergine Valdarno, its territory unfolds across gentle cultivated hills and small villages, in a convenient position for reaching both Arezzo and other Valdarno towns such as San Giovanni Valdarno and Montevarchi. It remains a corner of Tuscany still shaped by the slow rhythms of the countryside.
History and origins
The name Laterina recalls the Latin word 'later', meaning brick, a nod to the old local tradition of brick and terracotta kilns that shaped the village economy for centuries. The medieval settlement grew up on a hill in a defensive position, in an area long contested between Arezzo and Florence during the rivalries between the two Tuscan cities. Pergine Valdarno, a short distance away, likewise keeps traces of a rural, communal past. In 2019 the two municipalities merged, giving rise to today's Laterina Pergine Valdarno.
Nature and landscape
The landscape of Laterina Pergine Valdarno is typical of the upper Arno valley: hills planted with vineyards and olive groves, cypress-lined country roads and wide views toward the first Apennine foothills that close the valley to the east. The Arno river runs along the edge of the municipal territory, marking the natural boundary of the cultivated plain. It is a quiet rural setting, well suited to walking, cycling and to anyone seeking genuine contact with the Tuscan countryside away from the main tourist routes.
Things to do and see
The historic village of Laterina, perched on its hill with the remains of a medieval fortified settlement, and the village of Pergine Valdarno both invite walks through narrow lanes with views over the surrounding countryside. The area is well suited to walking or cycling routes among farmhouses, agriturismi and quiet hill roads, with panoramic stops over the Arno valley. From here Arezzo, San Giovanni Valdarno and Montevarchi are all within easy reach for day trips, making the town a quiet base for exploring the upper Arno valley.
Flavours and traditions
The table of Laterina Pergine Valdarno follows the farming tradition of the Valdarno: extra virgin olive oil, wine and Chianina beef, raised in the central Apennine area, are the signature products of this countryside. Alongside agriculture, the memory of brick and terracotta craftsmanship endures, once the heart of the local economy. Village festivals and seasonal markets bring life to the calendar, offering the chance to taste genuine local products and experience the community spirit of the small villages of the Valdarno.
Not to be missed
- The historic hilltop village of Laterina with the remains of its medieval fortified centre
- The village of Pergine Valdarno with its lanes and hillside views
- The hills covered with vineyards and olive groves of the upper Arno valley
- The traces of the area's old brick-making and terracotta tradition
- Trips along the Arno river and to nearby towns such as Arezzo and San Giovanni Valdarno
To see
What to see in Laterina Pergine Valdarno
Routes · Trovido Route
