Discovering the Passo della Consuma
Located a few km from Florence, in the heart of the suggestive Casentino region, Passo della Consuma is a place rich in history, charm and natural beauty. For centuries this mountain area has fascinated travellers, hikers and nature lovers with its breathtaking landscape and rich historical tradition.
From the Origins to the Consuma Cup
According to suggestive historical stories, the name Passo della Consuma could derive from the Consumi family, originally from Ferrara and forced into exile by Borso d'Este for political reasons in the late Middle Ages. It is said that the family settled in Florence in 1482 and ten years later founded the town around an ancient spring and a new church dedicated to San Domenico di Guzman.
Thanks to the advent of the carriageway for the Casentino at the end of the 18th century and the opening of the Baccelli road at the beginning of the 20th century, significant transformations in the area were witnessed in those years.
The opening of the road transformed Consuma into a renowned holiday resort, especially attractive for poets, writers, journalists and entertainers.
In 1902 Consuma was the venue for the first uphill car race in Italy, the "Coppa della Consuma", which in subsequent editions also saw the participation of famous drivers such as Ascari and Nuvolari.
Today Passo della Consuma continues to attract visitors from all over: it is a destination always very popular with cyclists and motorcyclists who love to test themselves among the curves of the pass, as well as with tourists and local inhabitants, who, fleeing from Florence and surrounding cities, are looking for greenery and a cooler climate. In fact, nature lovers can enjoy views, meadows and woods, which offer numerous opportunities for excursions and walks. Furthermore, the nearby Vallombrosa Forest, reachable in a few minutes, is an unmissable destination for hikers and for the famous "pratone" where you can organize phenomenal picnics and outdoor games with friends or family.
The best Schiacciata in Florence
During your visit to Passo della Consuma or even if you are just passing through, don't miss the opportunity to taste the famous "Schiacciata della Consuma". In fact, the best flatbread in Florence, thanks also to the mountain air, is not in Florence but here! The Schiacciata della Consuma in its classic version is stuffed with porcini mushrooms and you can find it in all the bars of this small town: everyone prepares it in their own way but it is delicious everywhere.
At Bar Consumi (https://www.barconsumi.it/) for example, as well as the version with porcini mushrooms, you can find it ready with different types of fillings, tasty combinations of mushrooms, cured meats, cheese and vegetables. Schiacciate are continuously baked here and there is also a large assortment of homemade desserts. At the Chalet il Valico (https://chaletilvalico.it/) you can fill it however you prefer also thanks to an interesting selection of meats, including the rare wild boar mortadella with truffles and high quality cheese. In all the bars you can order personalized fillings, cold cuts and drinks of all kinds, eat on site indoors, outdoors or to take away.
But if you are passing through on the weekend, especially during rush hour, be prepared to stand in a long queue: when the Mazzanti that brought into the world All'Antico Vinaio hadn't been born yet, we were already lining up in Consuma for a piece of schiacciata!
The Home Base of our Quad Tours
Passo della Consuma is the starting and finishing point of our Quad Excursions. If you are interested in Laghetto Quad Tour, at Vecchia Chiesa Quad Tour or go as far as Mandri Restaurant, we will always meet in Consuma, whether for a piece of schiacciata or a coffee.
