Dino Campana manifested his mental discomfort through his restlessness, which lead him to wander through the area around Marradi. The two itineraries described link the places the poet visited on his many pilgrimages along the crests and through the valleys of his native land, the land in which he matured and wrote his "Orphic Chants".

Introductory and technical notes

"The morning arid on the mountain tops.
High among the cusps of a desolate triangle
a castle is alight, higher and farther away."

This is how Campana recalled one of the most breathtaking landscapes of Marradi, Rocca di Castiglione, which stands isolated on high ground not far from the town. The fortress can be reached on foot by following a marked path on a uphill climb of  roughly 220 metres, and takes roughly 2 hours. The route is suited to almost anyone, including families with children.

Access

Marradi can be reached by car from Florence or from Faenza by way of state road n. 302, or by train on the Faentina railway line.

Description on foot

From Marradi the route moves along the state road towards Florence. Once past the fork for San Benedetto, the road moves right along a narrow bridge that crosses the Lamone River and then runs along the orographic left bank (left side following the flow). On the left a sliver of asphalt runs flat and then starts to rise until it reaches Via Cardeto. Take the route on the right, passing in front of the church and then ascending along the dirt road that leads to Podere Poggioli. New signage leads to an easy tract that takes you to the historical building with a beautiful square tower, which has been newly restored, and parts of the northern walls. The fortress  probably once had an underground passage, a section of which is buried, but whose exit is still visible. The descent follows a paved road that leads to the state road near Ponte di Camurano. Turn left on the state road and, just before Biforco, take Via Cardato left and back to the starting point.