Vicopisano
Vicopisano is a fortified village in the province of Pisa, set on the slopes of Monte Pisano between cultivated hills and the Arno...
Updated 21 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Vicopisano now
The story
The story of Vicopisano
Introduction and location
Vicopisano lies in the province of Pisa, in Tuscany, set on the slopes of Monte Pisano between the Arno plain and the hills dividing the lower Valdarno from the Serchio valley. The village overlooks a stretch of cultivated lowland just a few kilometres from Pisa and Pontedera, in a strategic position that for centuries made it a contested outpost between the republics of Pisa and Florence. Its historic centre, gathered around the top of the hill, still preserves a medieval layout of narrow lanes, stepped alleys and a skyline of towers visible from afar.
History and origins
Vicopisano's origins date back to the early Middle Ages, when the village grew as a fortified settlement along the routes linking Pisa with its hinterland. Long disputed between Pisans and Florentines for its command of the surrounding plain, it passed definitively under Florentine rule in the 15th century. In those years its defences were strengthened with new walls and towers, whose military design also involved Filippo Brunelleschi, called upon to make the stronghold more effective. This borderland past has left a legacy of fortifications, public buildings and an urban layout conceived primarily for defence.
Nature and landscape
The municipal territory stretches from the wooded heights of Monte Pisano down to the flat cultivated land toward the Arno, offering a varied landscape of holm-oak and chestnut woods, terraced olive groves and farmed fields. The mountain slopes hold hiking trails, old quarries and small watercourses that once powered mills and craft activities. From the highest points of the village the view opens onto the Pisan plain, a panorama that changes colour with the seasons, from the deep green of spring to the golden tones of autumn, when the olive groves and chestnut woods turn warm shades.
What to do and see
Walking through the historic centre reveals the fortified layout of the village, with its towers, remnants of the walls and public buildings that testify to the strategic role it played in medieval and Renaissance times. The old core is easily explored on foot, with stops at the fortress and the historic town hall, natural vantage points over the valley. Nearby, Monte Pisano offers trekking and mountain-biking routes suited to different levels, while the municipality's rural hamlets retain an authentic agricultural atmosphere, ideal for travellers seeking slow tourism away from the main crowds.
Flavours and traditions
Local cuisine is rooted in the peasant tradition of Monte Pisano, based on extra virgin olive oil, chestnuts, seasonal vegetables and garden produce. The oil produced on the hillside slopes is among the area's excellences, the result of olive groves cultivated for generations on terraces that shape the landscape. In the autumn months chestnuts take centre stage in simple, genuine dishes, while the nearby plain also guarantees fresh fruit and vegetables. Events tied to the farming calendar still mark local life today, keeping alive the bond between the community and the land around it.
Not to be missed
- The fortress and fortified towers linked to Filippo Brunelleschi's work
- The medieval walls and lanes of the historic centre
- The historic town hall building at the heart of the village
- The hiking trails of Monte Pisano
- The extra virgin olive oil produced in the surrounding hills
To see
What to see in Vicopisano
Routes · Trovido Route
