This zone is situated in the heart of Pisa’s countrysides, near the major city centers, not far from Livorno, Lucca, Empoli, Florence, too. It has good ways of communication, as train, bus and the airport. The Valdera Area is 25 minutes distants from the seaside, it is crossed by the river Arno and it embraces a series of villages as Vicopisano, Cascina, Bientina, Calcinaia, Fornacette and Ponsacco, near Pontedera (where the river Era flows together in the river Arno); in Pontedera you find a lot of shops and services of various kind.
Furthermore in the area of Volterra, the natural scenary represents the background of a series of other sall centers: Capannoli, Forcoli, Palaia, Peccioli, Terricciola, Selvatelle, Santo Pietro Belvedere, Lajatico, Lari, Casciana Terme, etc. These are all reachable in few minutes through the highway FI-PI-LI. They offer all the facilities for everyday life, like nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, banks, post offices, shops, supermarkets and department stores.
This is a region characterized by agricultural traditions, where the inhabitants lead a genuine lifestyle. Here, in spring and in summer there are a lot of village traditional and cultural events; this reality is the expression of the spirit of Tuscany.
DISTANCES FROM PONTEDERA AND PONSACCO’S EXITS OF “FI-PI-LI”
10 minutes to reach Capannoli and Forcoli – 15 minutes to reach Santo Pietro, Selvatelle and Lari – 25/30 minutes to reach Palaia, Peccioli, Terricciola, Lajatico, Casciana Terme.
The valley extends from the Volterra’s hill to Pontedera, the meeting place of Florence, Pisa and Volterra. Pontedera, in the past hardly quarrelled among these cities, nowadays is a town surrounded by green hills, flower gardens and cypresses. Because of its nearness to the seaside its vegetation is characterized by woods and pine-wood typical of mediterranean environment.
L'uomo ha poi impreziosito il suo territorio modellandone la natura con vigneti, uliveti e altre importanti colture.
Than man has embellished his territory with vineyards, olive groves and other kind of cultures. This flourishing territory is crossed by four rivers: the Era river (from where Pontedera takes its name), the Cascina river, the Roglio river and the Arno river. The Valdera Area was inhabited since the Etruscan Age and this presence is still today showed by the the findings done in Peccioli recently.
But the Middle Ages is the period that most makes tracks of a very important past for the Valdera Area, with its imposing fortress, its great tuscan castles, etc.
The typical customs and kitchen of Tuscany are extraordinarily rich; these are characterized by cheeses, truffles, game hunting, honey, oil and the excellent wine of the tuscan hills.
This territory is suitable for trekking, horse or bike trips and lovers of nature can be stimulated by the typical tuscan landscape, with cypresses and panoramic streets in contact with an evocative and relaxing environment.
Finally in the Valdera area there is also culture, a lot of little museums, that grow constantly; moreover you can fine theatre, music especially in spring and summer.