The ski slopes of Abetone rank among the best in Italy, and their proximity to Florence (just over an hour away) makes them a tempting stop even outside winter. Abetone is a great choice if you want to pair your Grand Tour of Tuscany with a couple of cool, elevated days. But more on that in a future blogpost.
Last weekend, we decided to climb one of the mountains above Abetone. For a fit hiker, it would have been a short, pleasant morning walk through the fresh air of the Apennines. For me, it was an adventure – and exactly what I needed after weeks of oppressive summer heat in the city.
This summer has been one of the hottest in Florence in the past 150 years. A cool Saturday in the mountains? Absolutely perfect.
Even better: it’s wild blueberry season in Abetone. Each year, the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines designates a period when foraging is allowed, with just one rule – a maximum of 2 kg per person per day. But if you’ve ever picked blueberries, you know: gathering even a single kilo takes time, patience, and a good eye.
We slowly made our way up the slopes, climbing toward the cross that marks the top of the mountain, bending down often to find berries hidden among juniper bushes and wild thistles. Peaceful meadows, rolling paths, and scattered blueberry shrubs surrounded us. The air was cool and scented with dried pine resin. We moved slowly, scanning the ground, breathing in that balsamic, alpine fragrance.
The three of us spent the whole morning foraging and ended up with less than half a kilo of berries. And then we ate them all while taking the chairlift back down. Oops.
So we made up for it by visiting a local café, famous for its brittle, and bought two full kilos of blueberries. We went home happy – almost two kilos richer in berries – only to discover that a sudden rain had just cooled down Florence and brought the temperatures back to normal.
Perfect timing to turn on the oven… and bake something delicious. Stay tuned – my rustic blueberry pie recipe is on the way!