Surrondings

SATURNIA

At 16 km from Fantone you will find Saturnia. This is a charming little town, renowned for its sulphurous well with healing water of 37° that will make you forget all your stress and worries. From Fantone you take the direction of Murci and take the first road to the left. Continue until the river, cross it and continue straight on. After la Fornacina the road turns 90° to the left and after a bit 90° to the right. You join de Usi- Saturnia road. Go right and you quickly find indications for Saturnia.

You can relax, enjoy a massage or mud therapy in the spa resort. You can also make reservations for a game of golf or you can drive just a little bit further and relax for free under the waterfalls.

THE ETRUSCAN CIVILISATION

The Etruscan civilisation dates from the 11° century before Christ. The whole way of living changed because people settled for the first time in fixed places and constructed villages on top of the hills near the most important rivers. The main activity was agriculture and breeding but with the beginning of the Iron period the craft sector was more and more important and they began to construct boats and works of art. They began commercial activities with the Greeks.

The Etruscan cities became the fulcrum of political, religious and economical live. This process was further improved and was the origin of real powerful City-states. The Etruscan necropolises from the beginning of the 7°century before Christ are near Puntone and Pian di Palma. These are tombs excavated under the ground and consist of a unique room. The roof was a big slab of travertine (porous white stone you find all over here) preceded by a corridor that slopes downwards. In Campo delle Caldane you find different tomb constructions, here you find a slab of travertino positioned in a vertical way, forming the walls and also here the roof is a big slab of travertine. The room made like this was closed by a travertine door and afterwards covered by earth so you see small hills spread on the land.

MONTEMERANO

Medieval domain of the family Aldobrandeschi (12° secular). In the 13° century it was passed on to the family of the Baschi and in the fourteenth it became part of the municipality Siena which constructs the defence wall and the palace.

The highest part of the town is the oldest. You enter the castle by a door with an arch that was part of a big defence wall in which you find the castle place and the bakery place surrounded by its characteristic houses. The rest of the built area is located on two roads which circles around the centre.

ROCCALBEGNA

Medieval village of 1300 dominated by the mountain and the rock. Possession of the Aldobrandeschi: family of the Longobarda (Florence) which was in power by a proclaim of Ludovico II who created the county Aldobrandesca Maremma in 862. All villages of the Fiora valley were in their posses. Later all this passed to the commune of Siena. The progress of the Senese power (which wanted to have o seaport) conquers own a lot of the territories of the Aldobrandeschi in the beginning of the 15° century, makes defence walls and fortress (cassero). After continuous struggle the villages of Manciano, Sovana, Sorano and Pitigliano go to the Roman family Orsini. Only Scansano remains to a family of Siena: the Sforzi.
The summit of the entrance door of the church “Pietro and Paulo” was tilted after an earthquake (frequently in the past while the Amiata zone is volcanic origin), inside art of the Siena school (16° century).
If you wish to visit the Rocconi woods of the WWF contact the 0564 989115. Closed on Thursday and on Friday. In the neighbourhood also the Pescinello park.

Source: www.comune.roccalbegna.gr.it

ROSELLE

Village of the Roman period constructed on an Etruscan area. Half way the second part of the second century before Christ began the Roman control on the Etruscan people. They made villages, roads, bridges and ports. Some of the Etruscan villages (Roselle e Sovana) were saved and developed, others were burned and destroyed (Ghiaccio Forte a Scansano).

GROSSETO

Source: www.provincia.grosseto.it

TUFF CITIES: PITIGLIANO, SOVANA AND SORANO

From Murci drive right and after 6 Km go right on the road Usi-Saturnia, after 500 m. go left to Rocchette di Fazio. Little mid age village, on the roc above the Albegna River: The Aldobrandesca fortress, the ingress door of the castle, the magistrate palace and the hospital built in 1300. Forward you find Semproniano. Also this is a medieval village on the top of the hill, so you climb across very little streets and stairs just to the rests of the Aldobrandesca castle. Then you continue passing Cattabbio and S.Martino sul Fiore and find before Sovana you can visit the necropolis and excavations of Sopraripa (3°and 2° century before Christ) and on the hill near to it Poggio Prisca there is the grave Ildebranda of the 3°century, important grave, evidencing the wellness of the local aristocracy and the Sileno grave with his singular circle structure. A lit behind on the same pad you admire a room grave in witch afterwards was made a characteristic pigeons house. In the Roman period these were used for conserve ash urns.
Sovana: unique village with a lot of story.
Sorano, built on one of the many plateau of the Lente River, is a medieval village almost intact. The Orsini fortress is an important witness of the medieval and renaissance architecture. Born as a defence point of the Aldobrandeschi was afterwards (in 1380) included in the new construction of the Orsini Palace. You enter by crossing a bridge over a first ditch. In the centre you see an ingress door with arch, decorated with the lions of the Aldobrandeschi and the bears and roses of the Orsini.

Clicca qui per ingrandire la foto
Pitigliano, residence of the Aldobrandeschi with tree circular towers and fortified wall became in 1313 residence of the Roman family of the Orsini. Part of the fortress was razed to the ground in 1465 for building a new palace in the village centre, that you can visit from 10-13 and from 15-19 closed on Monday.
At Pitigliano lives also an important Jewish community. The synagogue is open 10.00-12.00 and 15.00-17.00 closed on Saturday.
The Archaeological museum is open 10.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00, closed on Monday.
Market on Wednesday.
For the botanic garden of Terra Rossa call 0564 616039.
The “vie cave” are Etruscan road excavates in the rocs. They begin at Capisotto in the historical centre of Pitigliano than go down bi the stairs to the “Porta di Sovana”, her you choose which path you like to walk.
Return by Manciano: poses of the Aldobrandeschi from 1274, passed to the Orsini and, conquered by the community of Siena in 1416. These, strengthen the fortress and made the defends wall higher. In 1557 was given to the Medici of Florence and in 1783 became de principal town of the posses of the Lorena (Montemerano, Saturnia e Capalbio).
Historical museum.

MONTE LABRO

On the top of the mountain you have a wonderful view of the Amiata mountain and in the Scansano direction to the Tureen seaside.
In the park you can take a walk and observe deer, muffles and wolfs.
The David Lazzaretti tower is on the highest point of the mountain. He was an Amiata prophet, killed by the authorities in 1878, the founder of a political- religious community, the Giurisdavidici.
Next to this exists the most important Italian Buddhists centre. The Merigar is a meditation and meeting centre, founded in 1981 by the yoga teacher: Chöghyal Nahmkai Norbu.

MONTE AMIATA

If you want to spend a few hours or a day in the cool air of the woods, then you should definitely make a trip to the Monte Amiata. Enjoy your walk in the shade of the woods; admire the beautiful sight from this 1738 m high mountain.
S. Fiora was the most important towns of the Aldobrandeschi, afterwards in 1439 it passed to the hands of Senese people (the Sforza family) and returned property of Florence in 1633. For visiting the garden Peschiera di Santa Fiora contact the 0564 977571. Market the 1° and the 3° Thursday of the month.
Montenero and Montegiovi: facing to the Val d’Orcia. Here you see the landscape changing from the green Amiata zone into the clays of Siena.
Who likes art goes to Seggiano where you have the Garden of Daniel Spoerri: sculptures in a 15 Ha domain. tel. 0564 950457.
Castell’ Azzara: The oldest built over area. The Etruscan people from Sovana came over here to extract the cinnabar of the mines. In the Middle Ages it was part of Florence posses. Vitozza is an old fortress of the 12° century inhabited until the 18th century. A real fortified village; inside the walls you have the castle, a church and a lot of typical houses excavated in the stone.
For visiting the natural Monte Penna Park on the Civitella hill (1107 m.) contact 0564 951032.
Triana, Castle and village dated 1388 constructed by the Aldobrandeschi became Senese posses of the Piccolomini family.

LA VAL D’ORCIA, PIENZA E MONTEPULCIANO

From Murci go right to Roccalbegna and Arcidosso, than turn right to Castel del Piano, Seggiano and go to the Cassia road (direction Siena). Make a stop to visit Castiglione d’Orcia, Rocca d’Orcia, Bagno Vignoni and the castle of Ripa d’Orcia. Further on to S. Quirico d’Orcia and Pienza: city of the Pope Pio II, really interesting. Do not forget to visit the surroundings of the Pieve di Corsignano, and Monticchiello where you can taste the famous sheep cheese, Montepulciano where you have to drink a good glass of the D.O.C. Rosso di Montalcino ( wine produced with 70° San Giovese grapes). A little deviation to baths “Bagni San Filippo” opens from May until October. The alkaline sulphuric waters come out of five springs and have a temperature that goes from 25 until 52 °C. The” Fosso Bianco” is a large limestone formation and the most photogenic point of the whole Amiata zone.
Drive back via Castelluccio, Castelvecchio and then a short while on the Cassia (N2 to Rome), take direction Abbadia S. Salvatore, Pian Castagnaio, S. Fiora, Triana, Roccalbegna and Murci.

SIENA

uch more interesting than using the highway is to go to Siena via the secondary roads (S. Caterina, Vallerona, Stribugliano, Cinigiano), drive up to Sasso d’Ombrone, and only there take the N223 direction Siena. Even more beautiful is the route via Porrona, Sant Angelo and Montalcino (a must for wine lovers where the famous Brunello is made) then go to Siena on the Cassia (N2). Leave your car at one of the car parks just outside the centre, preferably the Il Campo car park near the Porta dei Tufi.
Cars are not permitted in the magnificent centre of Siena and this allows you to calmly stroll through the streets. During the summer, the narrow streets are protected from the sun thanks to the high historical houses and palace. Because Siena is built on a hill with its streets in a specific direction, you can always profit from a cool breeze.
When leaving the city, you will follow the sign « Autostrada ». At the bottom of the city hill you follow direction « Tangenziale » and you will look for the sign Grosseto (to the left). It will take you about an hour and a half to reach Murci by the N 223 up to Roselle, and then take the connection road to N 322 and arrive in Murci via the road through Scansano.

MARE D’ARGENTO

SHORT SEA TRIPS

Departing from Castiglione Della Pescaia from 22/04 until 30/09 it is possible to make a boat trip with NAVIMAREMMA LINES Srl. 2 routes are possible: the isle Elbe and a tour along Giannutri and Giglio. Information and reservation 335 1232927

Departing from Porto s. Stefano or Talamone with “Vega navigazione”, route until the isle of Elba, The isle of Montechristo and the isle of Giglio. Information and reservation 0039 0546 818022, 0564 813123, 335 7589445.

NATURAL PARK OF MAREMMA

Open every day, entrance from the centre of Alberese, connection by bus from Pratini departing every hour from 9.00 unto 14.00. Here you can start the walk back until 18.00hrs. You can book a guide by calling 0564 407098.

English guide for the two towers on Friday at 16.30

Routes:

• Without guide A3 Le grotte, easy walk of 8 Km.
• A4 Cala di Forno, easy walk of 12 Km.
• A5 and A6: right from Alberese
• A7 La foce dell’Ombrone da marina d’Alberese. Not difficult walk.
• A6 and A7 are available for disabled persons