Unforgettable Views: Hiking Monte Amiata, Tuscany

PART 147: It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living 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 live in Tuscany in the Fall, then back again in the Spring, and in California for the rest of the time (in a previous blog, I explained why we live in Italy only 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 hiking and trekking around Monte Amiata.

We are starting our adventure in Tuscany, discovering some amazing hiking in our area, and we want to share what we have found so far.

Step 2: History

Monte Amiata is the only mountain in the southern Tuscany region and the highest-extinct volcano in Italy. Its summit is 1,738 meters above sea level, and this extinct volcano marks the border between the provinces of Siena and Grosseto, where the territory of the Maremma meets the Val D'Orcia.

The Etruscans considered Monte Amiata their Mount Olympus, and the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times due to its fertile land, mineral deposits, and thickly forested slopes. The last volcanic eruption was 180,000 years ago, and you can still notice the huge boulders that dot the slopes from the eruptions.

There are many trails in and around Monte Amiata, suitable for trekking, biking, and even horseback riding. The best-known trail is the "Ring" or Anello dell'Amiata.

Most of the woods on Monte Amiata have marked paths, and the network of trails covers an area of approximately 215 km, divided into 19 routes.

Step 3: The Ring Trail

Monte Amiata offers one of Tuscany's best-designed and well-kept circular trails, the Ring Trail or Anello dell'Amiata. This trail, indicated by red and white signs, stretches between 1000 and 1300 meters and can be accessed from all roads leading to the mountaintop. It takes about 12 hours to complete the entire circle, but shorter walk options are also available along the ring (see below). The Anello dell'Amiata is linked to most Amiata towns through a series of smaller paths.

Why go on this hike? The chestnut forests, panoramic views, and immersion in nature make the walk a rewarding experience.

We are tackling the Ring hike in sections of a few hours a day to keep it enjoyable while still reaping its benefits along the way.

Step 4: Other trails

There are paths for all levels, many of which are great for biking, whether mountain or e-bike.

I will describe several fantastic hikes, ranging from 50 minutes to 5 hours. These hikes lead along the old mining sites or through chestnut and pine forests.

I will also describe an extremely easy hike, using the chairlift, at the end of this post.

Identifying the routes below is easy because they all start and end at the municipal stadium of Abbadia San Salvatore and are indicated by different-colored signs.

a) Mine Route

Red trail: 4.3 km, taking approximately 50 minutes.

This route reaches an altitude of 985 meters, passes by the old mining plant, offers a stunning view of the lake, and then loops back to Abbadia.

b) Path of S. Antonio

The brown trail is 9.8 km long and takes approximately 2 hours to complete. This path reaches an altitude of 1068 meters and includes some challenging sections. It winds through chestnut and pine forests, following the old road that connected Abbadia San Salvatore to Piancastagnaio. The trail ends at the old farm of S. Antonio and Cipriana (1000 meters above sea level) before returning to Abbadia San Salvatore, which connects to other paths in the final section.

c) Cipriana route

The trail is marked with blue signs and is 12.5 kilometers long, typically taking about 2 1/2 hours to complete. The trail reaches an altitude of 1068 meters and includes a few challenging sections. It passes through chestnut and pine forests along the old road connecting Abbadia San Salvatore and Piancastagnaio up to the Cerro del Tasca farm. From there, it continues to the ruins of Montarioso, offering a beautiful mountain view, and then leads to Cipriana before descending back to Abbadia San Salvatore.

d) Capomacchia route

Purple signs. The route is 22.5 km long and takes about 5 hours to complete.

This route is more challenging and reaches an elevation of 1530 meters above sea level. The path winds through chestnut and pine forests, continues through a centuries-old beech forest, and ends a few hundred meters from the mountain's summit. Along the way, hikers will pass through the village of Catarcione, the chestnut trees of Acquapassante with its sulphur hot springs, the church of Ermeta, and eventually join other paths to reach Abbadia.

Step 5: Resources

https://waidy.it/en/water-sightseeing-routes/mount-amiata-trails.html

https://www.veganiinviaggio.it/2020/09/15/trekking-sul-monte-amiata/

Step 6: Very EASY hike from the summit

Fear not! There is an easy hike waiting for you! The first time we hiked on Monte Amiata, we took the tram (funivia) up to the large metal cross at the summit and then hiked back down. It was an easy hike, and the tram ride offered stunning views, just like the hike itself. Below us, cyclists were navigating the challenging mountain bike trails, and as we ascended above the treetops, the vistas became truly spectacular. After getting off the tram, we took a short hike to reach the cross, where there’s a restaurant, tourist facilities, and breathtaking scenery. Hiking the descent was incredible, or just jump on the tram again.

Insights:

Living in Tuscany, we aim to lead an active lifestyle. Hiking on Monte Amiata and throughout Tuscany provides exercise, beautiful panoramas, and delightful surprises of nature. We plan to explore more on foot every time we are here.

More next time.

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