Rimini is synonymous with the sea, nightlife and fun, but those staying in this lively city of the Riviera Romagnola can discover, a short distance away, a completely different face of central Italy: that of the mountains, of the woods and the silence.
A day trip from Rimini to Camaldoli is an experience that unites unspoilt nature, monastic culture e Tuscan traditionoffering a surprising itinerary for those seeking a rejuvenating break.
From the sea to the mountains: an itinerary between panoramas and villages
The ideal departure is early in the morning. Leaving the coast and the scent of salt, you drive along State Road 258 passing through Verucchioancient Malatesta village, and Saint Leoperched on a rocky spur and dominated by the famous Fortress of San Leo.
Continuing inland, Romagna slowly transforms: the plains give way to the woods of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, where chestnut trees, beech trees e fir trees begin to draw a fresh, mountainous landscape. After about two and a half hours by car (about 130 km), we arrive at Camaldoli, in the municipality of Poppi, immersed in the National Park of the Casentino Forests, Monte Falterona and Campignaone of the largest and most impressive in Italy.
The Hermitage of Camaldoli: where silence speaks
The spiritual heart of the area is theHermitage of Camaldolifounded in 1012 by Saint Romuald, a Benedictine monk who sought a balance between community life and solitary contemplation.
Here, at an altitude of over 1100 metres, time seems to stand still. The hermitage consists of a small cloisterfrom a renaissance church and about 20 stone cellseach surrounded by a vegetable garden, where the Camaldolese monks live in meditation and prayer.
The atmosphere is thick with spirituality: the silence of the forest, the scent of resin and the distant sound of a bell accompany the visit, creating a feeling of deep peace.
Le guided toursavailable at certain times, make it possible to know the millennial history of the order and to discover how the monastic community still lives in harmony with nature.
The Monastery and the Old Pharmacy: faith, hospitality and herbal knowledge
Descending a few kilometres further into the valley, one reaches the Monastery of Camaldolibuilt in the 11th century as a place of reception for pilgrims and wayfarers.
Today the complex houses a church decorated with Renaissance artwork, a frescoed refectory and the famous Ancient Camaldolese Pharmacy.
Here, since the Middle Ages, monks produced ointments, balms, liqueurs and herbal teas using medicinal herbs collected in the surrounding forests. The dark wooden shelves, glass bottles and vintage tools still visible tell of ancient knowledge, handed down over the centuries.
Today, the pharmacy is still active and offers natural products and cosmetics realised according to the traditional recipesperfect for those wishing to purchase a authentic and beneficial souvenir.
Mountain flavours: lunch between forests and tradition
After the visit, it's time for the local flavours.
The restaurants and refuges in the area offer typical dishes from the Tuscan mountain cuisinegenuine and substantial: potato tortelli with meat sauce, porcini mushroom polenta, wild boar stew, seasoned pecorino and desserts based on chestnuts o Camaldolese honey.
Many venues overlook the woods and make it possible to dine al fresco, breathing in thepure air of the Casentino Forestsbetween the scent of wood and the song of birds.
Walks and nature in the Casentino Forest Park
For those who love walking, the Camaldoli area offers numerous hiking trails well signposted.
One of the most impressive routes is the one that connects the Monastery at the Hermitagea stretch of about 4 km in the heart of the forest, which can be covered in an hour and a half. The walk is gentle but immersive, ideal for those who wish to experience the spirituality of place through nature.
Other routes lead to Badia Prataglia, La Verna (where St Francis received the stigmata) or to the Apennine ridges that separate Tuscany from Emilia-Romagna, offering breathtaking views of mountains and valleys.
The return to Rimini: from silence to the sea
In the afternoon, after an intense and rejuvenating day, you can embark on the return journey to Rimini.
The descent from the Apennines offers new views, with the light of sunset caressing the woods and villages of Romagna. Returning to the city, the sea welcomes visitors once again, closing an ideal circle: from the blue of the Adriatic to the green of the forestsfrom the vitality of the Riviera to the millennial tranquillity of Camaldoli.
Practical tips for the trip
-
Duration of the trip: approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes each way (130 km).
-
How to get there: by car, following the SS258 towards Sansepolcrothen the SP208 to Camaldoli.
-
Best period: from May to Octoberwhen the weather is mild and the paths are accessible.
-
Clothing: bring one sweatshirt or light jacket even in summer - temperatures at higher altitudes are cooler.
-
Not to be missed: the guided tour of the Hermitage, l'Old Pharmacythe walking trail in the forest and the lunch in local shelters.
A day that stays in the heart
A trip from Rimini to Camaldoli is much more than a tourist excursion: it is an experience sensory and spiritualcapable of reconnecting anyone with the nature and with the value of silence.
A perfect trip for those who wish to discover that, just a few kilometres from the beaches of the Romagna Riviera, there is a place where time slows down e each breath becomes meditation.
