from Vaiano to Prato

km: 22
Difference in altitude +/-: +900 m/ - 1000 m
Time: 7/8 h

From the Piazza del Comune in Vaiano, take Via Alessandro Vannoni to Via Fratelli Rosselli. Continue towards the station and then take Via Borgonuovo, then Via Bronia and Via di Sofignano again, until you reach Villa di San Gaudenzio (which hosted Galileo Galilei!). Continue along the uphill road until you reach Le Mura and then, after crossing a gentle hilly territory, you reach Collisassi. From here, a Carrareccia will take you to Le Cave and then to Passo della Croce, from where you can take the CAI 20 path again, which continues along the Calvana ridge (it is not difficult to encounter herds of wild horses here) towards Monte Maggiore.
The vast grassy meadows along the ridges are iconic, where the panorama and ecological value make them a unique and precious place. Walking in this wonder you can hear herds of wild horses and you can even spot them. Many hikers are moved by the sight of this wonder of nature, and how could it not be so!

The landscape here is extraordinary, both for the panorama and for the spectacle that in spring is provided by the numerous blooms. From Monte Maggiore you descend towards Foce dei Cerri, where the “Calvana” breed cows graze.
Here you leave path 20 in favor of CAI 42 for Valibona and Crocicchio. You must then continue on path 40, which enters the Rio Buti valley, where you can observe 5 horizontal caves with karst springs. We now begin the descent towards the valley floor on the Via di Valibona, towards the Cavalciotto di Santa Lucia.
Interesting facts:
The Cavalciotto was used to channel the waters of the Bisenzio towards the city, allowing the development of the activities of mills and factories. Take a moment to admire it: it is a work of thousand-year-old hydraulic engineering and stands on the Bisenzio river, capable of taming the waters and transforming them into energy and resources. It was built to reclaim a swamp and over time it became a tool for irrigation, defense and production of hydraulic energy. The complex water system, 53 km long, has made the northern area of ​​Prato a vital industrial hub, maintaining the memory of its ingenuity over time.

From here we cross a metal bridge over the Bisenzio and then continue on the cycle path that, through the Porta Mercatale, will take us to Piazza Duomo in Prato.
The Cathedral of Santo Stefano, in Piazza del Duomo in Prato, is a masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture and represents a profound symbol of the city's art and history. Its ancient walls guard secrets and precious works of art and at first sight it strikes with two characteristic elements: the elegant light alberese and the green marble, also known as serpentine of Prato. The façade is embellished by the central portal, crowned by a refined glazed terracotta lunette. The bell tower with Gothic elements dates back to the mid-12th century.
Inside we find masterpieces of immense value: the Cappella dell'Assunta and the Cappella Maggiore preserve frescoes by Uccello, Lippi and other masters, the Madonna dell’Olivo by the Da Maiano brothers enriches the right transept, while in the presbytery works by Robert Morris stand out. Finally, among the most precious treasures, the Cappella della Sacra Cintola, frescoed by Agnolo Gaddi.