Valdarno

Valdarno offers a scenic flight over Tuscany's Arno valley, with the patchwork of towns, B&Bs and restaurants below making it as much a sightseeing flight as a sporting one. There are two take-off options: the main one, at about 1,060 m and facing southwest, is large and obstacle-free, reachable by jeep or a roughly ten-minute walk if driving; a second launch, some 200 m higher and facing south, is used mostly by hang gliders and is fairly narrow for paragliders. Wind works from the southeast through northwest here, opening the site to soaring, thermic cross-country and hike-and-fly outings alike. The main landing, at Cascia, is reasonably sized but needs care: a power line runs along its north edge and buildings sit at its east end, and there aren't many backup landing options nearby, so approach with a clear plan. Reach the area via the A1 motorway, exiting at Incisa and following signs toward Reggello.

Launch & conditions

Two take-offs: the main one at about 1,060 m, southwest-facing, large and obstacle-free, reachable by jeep or a roughly ten-minute walk; a second launch 200 m higher and south-facing is used mostly by hang gliders and is fairly narrow for paragliders.

Getting there & local rules

Take the A1 motorway, exit at Incisa, and follow signs toward Reggello.

Local rules & hazards

The Cascia landing field has a power line running along its north edge and buildings at the east end, so give both a wide berth on approach — and there aren't many other landing options nearby if you need to come down early.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Valdarno, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Valdarno with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.