The wild Amiata squeezed between the extinct volcano and the tuff quarries. Sigeric's journey among the Community Cooperatives and the promotion of the territory through mountain biking.
Source: press release
The Tuscany of the vineyards, that of the hills, the one overlooking the sea and the Renaissance, the Tuscany of Amiata is the result of a mixture of ingredients that make it a unique area of its kind. On the slopes of the extinct volcano named Monte Amiata extends an area rich in history, with continuous morphological changes and picturesque villages perched on the surrounding hills.
In this context, Sigeric through the "Turis.Coop" Network Project in support of Community Cooperatives co-financed in the framework of the POR FESR Tuscany 2014-2020 - Action 3.1.1 sub a4 Call for support for community cooperatives pursuant to art . 11 bis Lr 73/2005 went to the discovery of the area rich in a culinary tradition of enormous value, cycle paths and realities that operate in the tourism sector by exploiting the potential of mountain biking. All at a time when the Region of Tuscany and Tuscany Tourism Promotion is strongly focusing on two-wheeled tourism in Tuscany.
Mount Amiata scrutinizes and protects from its 1.738 meters high the villages and valleys that extend at its feet, an area full of castles, hills as far as the eye can see and a large number of Community Cooperatives operating in support of the territory , with them we discovered a cycle path that takes up ancient traces, to cross the area between flavors and colors.
Two days in the quiet in the shadow of the giant
Monte Amiata is an intriguing, mysterious relief that unites the Val d'Orcia to the Maremma, the Amiata to the Tuscia, its intriguing conical shape that can be seen from kilometers away is the backdrop to a series of hills, on a of these is Montelaterone, a small medieval village with a labyrinthine development of streets, alleys and stairways. From Montelaterone you can see the sea and on the other side the great relief of Monte Amiata. A strategic place where the Roccaccia is also located, a defense structure useful for controlling the area in defense of Siena. It is no coincidence that the tour cycled through the Amiata started from here, the town boasts that climate of tranquility, peaceful isolation not lacking in services, Il Borgo is the Community Cooperative that operates within the warm-colored walls of this country to offer services and support to the inhabitants of Montelaterone and to tourists with a catering service, a market and a hostel. Staying overnight in the Portabene Hostel means finding yourself dominating the town from the terrace, the tour in Amiata started from here, riding comfortable e-bikes to discover the secrets of this majestic place.
Montelaterone is the right place for those looking for rest and a logistical base to design their own two-wheeled tour. The planned excursion crossed the Amiata reaching the border with Lazio, passing through the forests of Monte Amiata and arriving in San Giovanni delle Contee. A tour within the reach of all mountain bike and ebike enthusiasts that can be tackled in most periods of the year.
Streets of water, chestnut and tuff
The landscapes that are crossed in Amiata are extremely varied, conformations of tuff, limestone, fir and beech woods. From Montelaterone, the route hypothesized thanks to the precious support of the mountain bike guides of Amiata Freeride, has passed through many sections of the Vie dell'Acqua, a series of cycle and pedestrian paths to discover the sources of Monte Amiata, a project supported by the municipalities of Arcidosso, Castel del Piano Santa Fiora and others. Go up the Ente torrent where the remains of some ancient mills are found right along the small streams, to go up towards Arcidosso. The paths of this part have variable slopes, the territory offers a continuous ups and downs to reach under the Aldobrandeschi Castle, an architecture of the year 1000 in the center of the country that represents the largest political and administrative center in the Amiata area. Among the Vie dell'Acqua, the route also overlooks the Cascata d'Acqua d'Alto in an evocative context. The waterfall is part of a 6-kilometer hike that can also be tackled on foot.
Climbing towards the summit of Monte Amiata the scenery changes constantly and the slopes become stiffer, as well as the temperatures. Welcome to the realm of chestnut cultivation, in a paradisiacal landscape that sees the grandeur of the robust chestnut trunks detaching themselves from a well-kept and verdant land. Chestnuts in this area represented one of the main sources of livelihood in the past and have earned the status of PGI. The chestnut trees slowly place the beech forest and with it the ground becomes darker, they are the remains of the volcanic activity of this place. On Monte Amiata the guys from Amata Freeride operate, a bike park worked and managed by Amiata Freeride, where there are tracks with jumps and parabolic curves and more natural tracks, all accessible through a ski lift. From here there are various tours to be tackled in the saddle in half or full day to discover the spectacular Terme di San Filippo, the mines of Abbadia San Salvatore or discover all the sides of the former volcano with ring excursions. Descending onto the dark ground of volcanic eruptions is a Martian experience.
To descend from Monte Amiata, the village of Castell'Azzara is an obligatory point of passage, another of the sentinels of the Amiata, where you can discover the mining tunnels of Cornacchino, a site of extraction of Mercury, here the land becomes limestone but always rich in vegetation with an incredible variety of flora, with beech, oak and ash trees. The right place to stock up on Topi, a typical dessert of the area with high energy qualities. The Castell'Azzara Municipal Ecosystem Community Cooperative operates here.
Culinary tradition
Amiata is another of the areas where learning about the culinary tradition is an essential experience. The south of the Amiata led us to discover the most intriguing culinary traditions with strong flavors and very simple ingredients. In San Giovanni delle Contee the culinary tradition keeps the town alive which is entirely built with tuff blocks, as are the local wine cellars. Osteria Maccalè is the fixed stop that a mountain bike tour cannot miss, a restaurant that offers a menu with intense flavors with a few simple ingredients. Osteria Maccalè is a project of the San Giovanni delle Contee Community Cooperative that operates in the area and allows tourists and hikers to live a unique experience, handmade pasta, cooked water i Ceccarelli San Giovannesi, culinary specialties one of a kind, a kitchen that takes time in a bright and vivid place.
The Community Cooperative of San Giovanni delle Contee has put itself at the total service of the community and the inhabitants and now leads tourists to discover the tastes of tradition. The tour ended with a glass of San Giovese and the gaze on the southern borders of Tuscany, Sigeric went from the far north of Lunigiana to the southernmost part to discover an area with a very high potential for bike tourism that it shares. with Lunigiana the wildest soul.
Biker-friendly area
The Amiata is an extremely natural area, wild and within reach of mountain bikes. In the area there are many services connected to the Outdoor practice, with rentals scattered throughout the territory, as well as the columns for the repair and maintenance of mountain bikes.
