Vicchio

Vicchio is a small town in the Mugello area, in the province of Florence, Tuscany. This hilly territory is best known as the birthplace of two major figures in Italian painting, Giotto and Fra Angelico (Beato Angelico), whose legacy is preserved in the town's small Museo Beato Angelico. The centre retains a modest but genuine historic character, with its Piazza Giotto and narrow lanes typical of Tuscan villages. The surrounding Mugello countryside combines cultivated hills, olive groves and vineyards, including those of the Chianti Rufina area. Nearby, the artificial Lake Bilancino is a popular spot for swimming, sailing and lakeside walks. The wider region also offers good opportunities for hiking and cycling, amid old villages and the wooded slopes of the Tuscan Apennines. Vicchio lies around thirty kilometres from Florence, making it a peaceful base from which to explore the Tuscan countryside while remaining within easy reach of the region's major cultural sites. The temperate Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and mild winters, makes it particularly suited to visits during the warmer months.