Holiday apartment in Ostina: village history and paths through the Balze

Ostina between village history and the Balze

Those who explore Ostina encounter a place whose character emerges from two layers: the history surrounding the castle, church and village center, and the Balze landscape. This combination makes choosing a holiday apartment in Ostina particularly flexible when planning your trip.

Historical traces in the village

The first written mention of Ostina’s castle dates back to 1060. The old castle was conquered and razed to the ground in 1305. The history of the village therefore reaches far back, but is not limited to a single building: after the destruction of the old castle, the new village of Ostina, Castelnuovo, was established near San Tommaso.

The Church of San Tommaso in Ostina dates back to the 12th century. Its façade and masonry preserve its original appearance. An enlargement of Ostina’s Castelnuovo and its church in 1314 can also be traced. Those interested in historic village settings will therefore find several chronological points of reference here that can be mentally connected during a walk.

The ruins known in Ostina as Castelvecchio consist of a few sections of crumbling walls. The traces of Castelnuovo can be seen in the layout of the small village, which is arranged around two central, narrow lanes. Ostina’s Castelnuovo can be traced back to 1427 as a walled, fortified settlement. The contrast between preserved structural elements, ruins and the narrow village layout gives the history of the place a tangible form.

Paths through the Balze

The Balze trail network includes the Anello di Ostina circular trail, designated as R25. Starting from Ostina, the trail leads into the particularly impressive area of the Balze. After a small pass, the Anello di Ostina reaches the valley of the Rio di Luco and continues to the Buca di Gabriello near Gretaio, where you can consider taking a break.

The Balze are erosion-related formations with steep vertical walls, rock pinnacles and earth pyramids. Around Ostina, they form a heterogeneous habitat that provides refuge for numerous birds, mammals and insects. This creates a clear landscape focus for planning your day: alongside the route itself, observing unusual landforms and the species-rich habitat takes center stage.

Combining different kinds of travel days

The apparitions of Madonna della Riconciliazione also form part of Ostina’s distinctive character. They have taken place since July 10, 1993, on the last Sunday of every even-numbered month.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Ostina, you can therefore consider which daily rhythm suits your trip: a walk between San Tommaso, Castelnuovo and the narrow lanes, a walking experience through the Balze, or a combination of village history and nature observation.

More places for planning your trip

Other destinations you can discover when planning your trip include Fiesole, Pelago, San Pierino, Montaione, Marliano, Londa, Linari and Sesto Fiorentino.

For the higher-level travel overview: Florence.