Outdoor Sports Activities in Southern Tuscany

PART 158 It might be interesting to share how we managed to live in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps and what we are learning along the way.

We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!

We spend the fall in Tuscany, then return in the spring, and spend the rest of the time in California (as I explained in a previous blog, we only live in Italy for part of the year).

Step 1: As we explore areas in Italy, we discover some gems worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser-known but always amazing. 

This week, let's explore sports and Monte Amiata.

Step 2: Our home

We purchased a home in the Monte Amiata region and are discovering various sports activities in our area. Since we love an active lifestyle, here are some of the sports activities we have found so far.

Step 3: Walking and riding

Besides daily gym workouts, walking, hiking, and biking have become my most consistent forms of exercise. In California, I ride my bike most evenings; in Tuscany, I take an hour-long walk before or after dinner. Both clear my head, get my heart rate up, and never feel like a chore. Even in our own town, the views and small details along the way keep each outing interesting. I almost always lose weight when I’m in Italy, and all that walking is surely part of the reason.

Step 4: Skiing and snowboarding

Monte Amiata offers 10 kilometers of alpine ski slopes and features 8 lifts. Additionally, trails are available for both cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, offering excursions that can be enjoyed during the day or at night.

The ski resorts at Monte Amiata typically operate from late December to mid-March.

We haven't had the chance to go skiing or snowshoeing in our area yet, but it is on our bucket list. We both prefer cross-country skiing.

Step 5: Hiking and Nature Trails

During the summer, the mountain offers numerous hiking and nature trails that lead to panoramic viewpoints, lush forests, and unique volcanic formations. There are 19 signposted routes throughout the woods, covering a total of about 210 kilometers. These trails can be explored on foot, horseback, or by mountain bike.

Recently, the trails have been renovated, offering options for all levels of fitness, from easy to challenging. We haven't yet attempted the most extended and most demanding route: the Anello del Monte Amiata (The Ring of Mount Amiata). This trail is over 27 kilometers long and takes approximately 12 hours to complete. However, there are many shorter trails and walks through the beech tree forests. Longer walks in the woods provide an excellent opportunity to connect with nature, especially in the Monte Labbro Nature Reserve, the Amiata Wildlife Park, and the WWF Bosco Rocconi Oasis.

We enjoy taking the ski lift to the top of Amiata and then hiking back down, which is a very easy hike.

In the heart of the Monte Amiata park, a nature trail extends north-northeast from the Podere dei Nobili. This path is rich in vegetation and is crossed by the Onazio stream. It features wooden guides, fords, and signposts indicating the various plant species found along the way.

Step 6: Cycling and Mountain biking

For cycling enthusiasts, Monte Amiata offers a wide range of experiences, from challenging climbs to relaxed rides through lush countryside. You can pedal beneath the canopy of beech trees or follow roads that wind through sun-drenched valleys. The Monte Amiata Bike Park is especially popular with mountain bikers, offering trails for all skill levels, along with chairlift and shuttle access to the upper slopes.

One of the most striking mountain bike trails runs directly beneath a chairlift near Hotel Le Macinaie. It’s common to see riders heading up the lift with their bikes, then racing back down the trail. While it looks a bit too demanding for me, it’s hard not to admire how much fun it seems to be.

For those who prefer road cycling, the mountain is equally rewarding. Scenic routes such as the Strada della Castagna and the Strada del Vino di Montecucco wind through areas rich in natural beauty and history, passing chestnut forests, vineyards, and small villages scattered across the slopes.

Step 7: Camping

Whenever we drive through Monte Amiata, we come across campgrounds where locals and visitors spend their days or weekends. While camping might not traditionally be classified as a "sport," it certainly encourages an active lifestyle, so I am including it here. There are numerous local campgrounds available online where you can set up a tent, park a trailer, or rent a cottage.

Step 8: Hot Springs

Is sitting in a hot spring a sport? Let's say yes because it's possible to swim. The area around Monte Amiata is famous for its natural hot springs, including Bagni San Filippo, where visitors can enjoy a relaxing soak in thermal waters.

But where does this steam and hot water come from? Monte Amiata has not erupted in approximately 300,000 years, making it a dormant volcano. However, volcanic activity still bubbles away 3 to 7 miles below the surface. This underground process provides southern Tuscany with some of its most well-known hot springs, such as Saturnia, Bagni San Filippo, and Bagnore.

At Bagno Vignoni, visitors can admire a 16th-century collecting basin filled with water containing a mix of sulfur compounds, bicarbonates, and sulfates. It takes approximately ten years for this water to percolate underground and travel over forty kilometers from Monte Amiata before it reaches the surface.

Whether for sport, health, or historical reasons, the hot spring areas in Monte Amiata are definitely worth a visit.

Step 9: Gyms

Gyms are practically everywhere in Italy. Even though we live in a fairly small town, there are two gyms in our area, with another one soon to open.

Working out regularly is a great way to consistently focus on fitness, participate in sports, set goals, and stay in shape. Exercising is a sport in itself, as it emphasizes the development of one's physical abilities.

One of the added benefits of regularly going to the gym in our area of Tuscany is that we have met and developed relationships with many interesting people, both locals and expats, who we would not have met otherwise.

Insights: We are only beginning to explore life in the Monte Amiata area. Since we aim to maintain an active lifestyle, exploring the sporting activities available in Amiata is one of our first steps.

More next time.

My new novel is on sale now for $2.99! "Onward: A Life on a Sailboat" is a tale that will draw the reader to the Amalfi coast, the deserts of Algeria, the south of France, and beyond. https://a.co/d/3hhJkxE

Amazon Italy- my book "Lei mi ha sedotto. Una storia d'amore con Roma": https://amzn.eu/d/13nuZCL.