It’s time to explore It’s time to explore Tuscany Thinking about Tuscany, our imagination conjures up arty cities, villages sprinkled in the rolling countryside, swa- thes of scenery and specialities that seduce and beguile. When we look closer at the region’s geography realization dawns that other elements exist, which promise to whisk away travellers for unexpected and enthralling experien- ces. Impressive mountain ranges whose streams and river flow down to the valley, vast nature reserves, leafy forests with an ancient past and a gloriously long coastline that extends among Mediterranean shrub and across seven sublime islands. These natural resources are fully enjoyed by Tuscans and they are inspiring places for people from all over the world who are drawn to a lifestyle based on outdoor experiences. Opportunities are ripe for a new exploration of Tuscany, one that’s different, active and su- stainable. It’s the start of a timeless adventure where time is a thing of the past. Follow the seasons for experiences that change dramatically with the weather. After all, the- re’s no such thing as an inclement time of year in Tuscany, where adventure is available year-round and every day is awash in possibilities, from tasting local specialities to visiting a museum, from the city to the countryside.

There’s more to the region than the art and beauty of “tra- ditional” Tuscany. We urge you to expand your horizons. Although you won’t need to venture too far as, in Tuscany, adventure is always just around the corner. On the footpaths of Mount Gennaio, in the Tuscan- Emilian Apennines, Pistoia.

Photos • Claudine Co INDICE 04 Trekking & Mountain 32 Water Sports 18 Cycling

04 Trekking & Mountain 46 Ski & Snow

06 On hiking trails 48 Alps and Apennines, high-altitude excitement 08 A passion for rocks 10 Running in the wilderness 52 Skiing all around 12 Hiking all around 66 Natural Exploration

14 Ancient roads 54 Parco di San Rossore

16 National Park of the 55 Parco della Tosco-Emilian Apennines

18 Cycling 56 Air Sports

Ski & Snow 20 Off road Tuscany 58 An airborne adventure 46 22 In the Land of glous cycling 60 Hanging in the air of another time 24 Pedalling through Tuscany’s scenery 62 Flying all around 26 Cycling all around

28 National Park of the 64 Parco delle Colline Casentinesi Forests Metallifere AUTHORS 30 Parco delle Alpi Apuane Mattia Bianco, Giancarlo Brunelli, Margherita Moretti, Benedetta Perissi, Andrea Vismara.

PHOTOGRAPHERS 32 Water Sports 66 Natural Exploration Mario Llorca, Daniele Bettazzi, Michele Ortolano, Daniele Paolini, Roberto Ridi, Matteo Dunchi, The thrill of the river Journeying through nature on horseback 34 68 Matteo Oltrabella, Claudine Co, 36 Explore the coast, on the wings 70 Oases and horizons, where Mauro Macarelli, Luca Lombardi, of the wind to go birdwatching Emanuele Lotti, Federico Corbinelli, On the trail of the Etruscans Yari Ghidone, Alex Boyce, David 38 In Tuscany’s blue gold 72 and Romans Bonaventuri, Paolo Martelli, 40 The Tyrrhenian discovered by sailboat Costantina Pozzi, Filippo Franceschi, 74 Unexpected geothermal charm 42 Diving all around Alessandro Ghedina, Antonietta 76 Adventure all around Carboni, Andrea Bidossi, Edoardo Air Sports Benelli, Enrico Caracciolo, Marco 44 The Tuscan Archipelago Nature Park 78 Parchi della Val di Cornia 56 Porciani, Jack Arnott, Melissa Toledo, Roy Corsini. TREKKING & MOUNTAIN Trekking | Mountain Hiking | Climbing | Caving | Trail running | Orienteering

Travel, discover, savour. Experience nature, explore it in all its The ascent upps the pulse by taking on trail running and forms and let yourself be swayed by its ancestral beauty and becomes even rockier, in all meanings of the word, beside high pure outdoor spirit. The best way to do it is by striking a rhythm cliff faces halfway between sky and land.Climbing is a sport between your soul and feet while wearing a backpack. and a lifestyle, a way of ascending crags of varying difficulty, always down to the last handhold and foothold, in touch with Far from the usual tourism routes, going trekking means the wildest of nature, inside and out. Even more immaculate discovering while walking a wide variety of natural and wild is the impassable nature in underground caves and grottoes. landscapes, unexpected scenery and hidden historic treasures. Caving lures hikers who nurse an ardent desire to explore It’s also a way of scaling the heights of the world. Step by step the bowels of the earth, armed with a helmet, in discovery of and with a difference in uphill gradient,mountain hiking leads subterranean worlds. to the conquering of summits, high-altitude viewpoints and A high-octane outdoor world in a single region, Tuscany, where new perspectives. mountaineering is life. Above: ontheVandellifootpathinviewofConti shelter, Side: viewoverLakeScaffaiolo, accessiblefromDognaccia. Top Right:trekkingpathsalong theApuanAlpstowards ON HIKING TRAILS ON HIKINGTRAILS Pania dellaCroce.PhotosbyDavidBonaventuri Apuan Alps.PhotosbyAlessandroGhedina Rolling landscapesalternating withruggedpanoramas, Tuscany is the towns, a legacy ofnature is waitingthe towns, alegacy tobediscovered: hectare the landofAlpsandApennines,juststeppingoutside dense network ofhikingtrailsdense network that offer memorable experiences. after hectare ofwildnature, ready tobeexplored thankstoa PHOTO TREKKING |MOUNTAIN HIKING 8 that isby walking. and the best way to do slice isworth savouring down and linger; every listen and touch, slow little and large. See, smell, adventures and trekking Tuscany isaregion for encountering the age-old beechwoods to quenchathirst foradventure,even routes canbe walked overseveraldays like totakeonridgesand forests. The The of thepeacefulquietude forest. suitable foreveryone,especially lovers hiking network that’s enviable by all and once yougettotheMugello,averdant tini. TheApenninesbecome“Florentine” resting atthethermalbathsinMonteca- the ringrouteofMonteBattifollebefore re theSvizzeraPesciatina,walkingalong ving downhilljustalittle,youcanexplo- incredible high-altitudehiking,whilemo- and theDoganaccia,youcanheadoutfor hiking. From theski lifts on the Abetone downs thatmakeforpropermountain is permeatedwithcrispairandups high as2,000metresabovesealevel nuous landscape of peaks that reach as ring regions,theApenninesanditssi- A naturalwatershedwiththeneighbou- your tastesorskilllevel. tunities foradayoftrekking,nomatter ancient roads,offeringanarrayofoppor- through mountain trails, mule tracks and sprinkled withhikingitinerariesthatwind red ontwofeet.Theentireterritoryis unspoiled naturewaitingtobediscove- scapes ishometorichbiodiversityand the crystal-clearsea.Thisvarietyofland- dotted with promontories that overlook ath-taking views,spectacularcoasts lush forests,peakstoconquerwithbre- with perfectly ordered cultivated fields, is continuouslyharmonious;landscapes the dialoguebetweenmanandnature on the best showof itself, ensuringthat Mother NatureinTuscanyalwaysputs Casentino isperfectfortrekkerswho 9 that runsaround thisancientvolcano. pe: trythe30-kilometre trekkingroute south inthedistance ofthishillylandsca- the way.MonteAmiatarisesupto sty locallymadesnacksand winealong rests andcenturies-oldvillages, withta- among verdant hills, expanses of oak fo- to conjureupanexcitingday ofhiking te, ValdelsaandVald’Orcia,combine hills ofSiena,fromChiantitotheCre- taste budsareaddedintothemix.The eyes and spirit, even more so when the Trekking isequallygratifyingforbody, islands intheTuscanArchipelago. boasting unbeatable vistas over the other ses as high as the top of Monte Capanne, GTE (GrandeTraversataElbana),whichri- the unexpectedhikesprovidedby all-round seaviewsonElbaIslanddueto and trailsthatleadtothebeach.Enjoy tes intheMediterraneanshrub,tallcliffs ots and brackish breezes with hiking rou- remma willfulfilyoururgeforhikingbo- prefer the sea to the mountains, the If you have a craving for trekking but you astern . reminiscent of the Dolomites inNorthe- ge bythecoastwithitsruggedpeaks the rocky Tuscany it’simpossiblenottothinkabout When wetalkaboutmountainhikingin forest, thetallesttreeinItaly. stands 62metreshighintheVallombrosa aking giantsliketheDouglasfirthat round views,natureprotectsrecord-bre- per Valdarnowhosesummitaffordsall- that dividestheCasentinofromUp- nearby slopesofPratomagno,themassif a UNESCOWorldHeritagesite.Onthe in theSassoFratinonaturereserve,now Apuan Alps, the mountain ran- Ma-

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN FOR ROCKS A PASSION the bowels oftheearth.TheAlps,ApenninesandPre-Apennines For climbingandpotholinglovers, Tuscany islinedwithcrags halfway sky between andland,aswell ascaves that leadinto are onhandfor adrenaline-fuelled ascents anddescents, and especially for adventures hangingby arope. CLIMBING |CAVING 10 Monteriggioni. Photos byYariGhidone Right: caveexcursioninthe MontagnolaSenese, Cemetery, inCamaiore. PhotosbyDanielePaolini Left: thevia“Veleniquotidiani”oncliff of the Apuan Alps.PhotosbyRobertoMilazzo Top: climbingthevia“Nonasinfonia”onMount Nona, PHOTO as the to surprising underground spaces, such ls andingredients,butit’sequallyhome The heartofTuscanyisfamousforitshil- to soundthedepthsofearth. ling expertsandaspiringamateursready ly important, irresistible places for potho- makes thecavesnaturallyandhistorical- for millennia.Thecuriousmorphology vironments thathaveintriguedhumans tural cavesthatleadintomysteriousen- complex inItaly),theregionisrichna- shafts makeitthelargestunderground chia (whose70kilometresoftunnelsand in FornovolascoandtheAntrodelCor- with thespectacularGrottadelVento sed too.InadditiontotheApuanAlps wild, subterraneannaturewillbeimpres- tch. Thosewhoenjoydescendinginto adventures withstrikingscenerytoma- Tuscany offers a vast range of climbing sea, theCapod’Uomocliff. along the Italian coast: between sky and home tooneoftheloveliestrockfaces a holidaydestination,theArgentariois the SouthernTuscancoast,famousas free climbingandbouldering,whilealong Monte Amiataisfullofrockyridgestogo gyms well-knownamongenthusiasts. de thoseinMonsummanoTerme,natural In Valdinievoleotherstunningcliffsinclu- and ,Tuscany’sclimbingcapital. Alps, suchasinStazzema,Montignoso varying difficultythroughouttheApuan or byclimbing.Thereare40cragsof ta”, thefirsttobeopenedinItaly1893, mit canbereachedusingthe“viaferra- known asthe“panettone”,whosesum- pillar with a sheer cylindrical rock face sea ofVersiliaisMonteProcinto,achalky Apuan Alpsinsinuatingtheirwayintothe pes, powderandsnaphooks.Partofthe also appealtoclimberswiththeirro- destination forhikers.Thesemountains environments in Tuscany and a favourite The places forverticaladventures. rocky ridgesandcanyons,theperfect th tosouth,thegeographyconsistsof Tuscany setsthepulseracing.Fromnor- sheer clifffaces. bers, theirheartbeatquickeningbetween Crags arethepreferredhabitatforclim- Apuan Alpsareamongthewildest Montagnola senese and the kar- ght. tunnels andonetoreturnintothesunli- different shafts,onetoenterthe years andit’soneofthefewtohavetwo Maona karstcavedatesback15million into the bowels of the earth. The Grotta that leadstoanunforgettablejourney dash ofadventureduetoatourismtrail tion tocombineaspaexperiencewith Montecatini Termeistheperfectdestina- and theutmostrespect. preserved and admired through caving rare species, pristine environments to be purity hostscoloniesofbatsandother and fragile spectacles, a habitat whose from the rock faces, giving rise to striking in Italian:chalkconcretionsthatriseup ma aroundGrosseto.Thenamesaysitall Sassocolato inthehinterlandofMarem- as thoseconcealedinsidetheGrottadi of caves,stalagmitesandstalactites,such hidden worldshapedbywater,consisting corners. Furthersouth,animpassable, San Gimignano and forming its centre of a natural triangle with Siena, nown subterraneantreasuretrove,atthe technique andexpertise.It’salittle-k- caving excursions or cavingthat requires less cavesthatcanbevisitedduringeasy stic phenomenahavegivenrisetocount- 11 habitat in Tuscany. scale will find their natural to cathedrals natural of aspiring amateurs in search mountaineersExpert and

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN RUNNING INTHE WILDERNESS TRAIL RUNNING|ORIENTEERING 12 wild and testing your mettle as atrail runner. destinations and none whatsoever, away of going Ready, set, go!Tuscany boasts trails with physical a stageofraceintheMugellowoods. Above andright:orienteeringonMountAmiata Federico Corbinelli from PaniadellaCroce,ApuanAlps.Photosby Left: trailrunnersintheVallonedell’Inferno,descent PHOTO to defynature, insideorout. competitions, allowing you many internationally famous in thewild.There are also that are perfect for running all crisscrossed by trails slopes, spectacular ridges, endless forests, steep has justthethingfor you: outdoor spirit, Tuscany if you’re arunnerwithan the peaksofApennines, From theharmonious hillsto dozens ofkilometrestrailsimmersed sky, theMontagnaPistoiesearehometo In theApennines,almosttouching running. most mountainous kind of running: sky and boastcharacteristics perfect forthe trails that altogether create ring routes mountain iscrisscrossedbyanumberof river canbefound,theFalterona.This in Italy,wherethesourceofArno there’s oneofthemostfamousmountains In theheartofCasentinoForest, experienced atspeedykm/h. for adventurehiking,Tuscanyisbest and markeditineraries,enjoyableeven Forming acapillarynetworkoftrails trails. Tuscany offersawiderangeofrunning indulge yourpassionforthewilderness, in harmonywithancestralpractices.To landscapes ofallkinds,butalwaysnatural, rough trails,surroundedbybeautiful lovers ofwildrhythms,runonsteepand balance. Runnerswithanoutdoorspirit, to explorethesetrailswithspeedand when I’vefinished,”it’sawonderfulthing is “Iwon’tstopwhenI’mtired,I’ll also bequick.Forthosewhosemantra In addition to being intense, passion can 13 outdoors. nature, experiencingTuscanypurely checkpoints for orienting yourself in these woodsinsearchof“lanterns”: high-performance athletesrunthrough Emilian Apenninesinthenorth,kidsand trees, totheforestsonTuscan- Amiata, coveredinchestnutandbeech the south,climbingslopesofMonte orienteering. FromtheVald’Orciain There aremanygoodplacestotry included incompass-basedcompetitions. Tuscany, butthecityisalsooften practiced inmanygreenareasaround orienteering; thissportanddisciplineis forest istheperfectenvironmenttogo truly comeintocontactwithnature.The unknown territory,isthebestwayto and acompassforsafelyexploringan Orienteering, beingarmedwithmaps the MugelloandonViadegliDei. arduous elevationsoftheUltraTrailin that crossthehillylandscapeto the Ecomaratoneand100kilometres There arealsomanycompetitions,from speed” excursionsinthe wild ofalllevels. plains anddifficultslopes,for“high- in the lush forests, surrounded by high

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN AROUND ALL HIKING 14 04 01 Casentino forests ofbeech andfirtrees. Parchi, andisimmersedinthe mystical for astretchwiththeUpper Viadei circular route.Thisitinerary overlaps glia andleadshikersbackaround ina hiking routethatstartsinBadia Prata- trails leadthere,likethemountain muald almost1,000yearsago.Many dictine monkswasfoundedbySt.Ro- monastery. ThiscommunityofBene- merge: theCamaldolihermitageand sacred placewherefaithandnature The CasentinoForestishometoa bers. summit, an“amusementpark”forclim- Pania alsoincludestheSassoRosso to theGarfagnana.Theareaaround from theApenninestoApuanAlps peak youcanenjoyviewsthatrange hiking trail along the coast, from its height andreachable via astunning massif thatexceeds1,600metresin the PaniadiCorfino.AnApuan-like lends itsnametothenaturereserve, At the centre, there’s a mountain that la isimmersedinthelushGarfagnana. sco-Emiliano NationalPark,Orecchiel- On theborderwithAppenninoTo- Parco dell’Orecchiella is always around thecorner. InTuscany,activities. adventure to bediscovered withoutdoor breath-taking views,allwaiting to-no impact, places with where humanshave hadlittle- days wandering through nature, for hikingandspendinglong there are manyopportunities hikes. From northtosouth, include inyour listof favourite next weekend outdoorsorto ideas totake noteoffor your the seaside,there are afew In themountains, butalsoat a leisurelywalk oratarun. it ispleasant.It’s easilyreachablewith ded byalandscapethat’sassimple as between cypresstreesand surroun- small deconsecratedbuilding nestled cia, you’llfindtheVitaleta Chapel, a scany, PienzaandSanQuirico d’Or- of themostbeautifulvillagesinTu- across gravelroadsandthroughtwo halfway alongaroutethatwinds World Heritagesite.Locatedabout side oftheVald’OrciaisaUNESCO fields, thetypicallyTuscancountry- Rolling hillsandskilfullycultivated es andcomprisingafewclimbs. along atrailthroughforestsoffirtre- reachable viatheValledelSestaione, which rise up 2,000metres,and is rounded bytheimposingApennines, reflected initswaters.Thelakeissur- the darkcolourofrocksthatare sea levelthattakesitsnamefrom origins located1,730metresabove Nero, abodyofwaterwithglacial Amongst themostbeautifulisLago is hometomanyuniquesceneries. mountain hikingandtrailrunning, the Montagna Pistoiese is ahavenfor ge oftheTuscan-Emilian Apennines, Situated northofPistoia,ontherid- Montagna pistoiese 05 02 Val d’Orcia 15 06 03 cult equippedtrails forclimbing. walls witheasy andaveragelydiffi- mountain are the Avane cliffs, rocky scan Archipelago. At thefootof Alps tosomeoftheislandsin theTu- horizon andrangesfromthe Apuan here, theviewstretchesbeyond the the dominateoverVecchiano. From you canreach the modest heights of orchids that bloom in the springtime, and colourfulflowers,liketherare gh plateausdottedwitholivetrees des PisaandLucca.Ontrailsthrou- of theTuscanSub-Apenninesdivi- The small,pleasantmountainchain beach. fically the splendid, wild Cala di Forno The trailcontinuestothesea,speci- known astheTorredell’Uccellina. stery withanannexedwatchtower was originallyaBenedictinemona- between the11thand12thcentury,it ads totheAbbeyofSanRabano.Built lush forests, an easyhikingroutele- aromas ofMediterraneanscruband covered indensevegetation.Amidst the coastwithhillyaltitudesandare the Monti dell’Uccellina rise up near Located intheGrossetoMaremma, Parco dell’Uccellina Monti Pisani

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN ANCIENT ROADS 16 incredible region. to straddle ofthis thehistory in thefootsteps ofourforefather which were travelled on foot. Step connected distant places and and trails, theroads whichonce the dustingdown ofoldtracks form oftourismdueabove allto gathering speedasasought-after has enjoyed newlifeblood, In recent years, hikinginTuscany the Apennines, including the popularVia Countless recently restoredtrailscross in Italy,butit has muchmoretooffer. Tuscany vauntsthemostvaried scenery gifting unforgettablememories. venture, heightening all our senses and and tradition,provesanextraordinary ad- culture whileprovidingataste ofhistory Francigena, aroutethatblendshikingand tially apainting.Walkingalongtoday’sVia d’Orcia hills,whereeveryviewisessen- shrub oftheCerbaietostrikingVal from theheadyperfumesofpristine over bythemajestyofApuanAlps, Lunigiana, totheseaofAvenzawatched nes to Pontremoli, a delightful town in the route leadsfromthewildsofApenni- Archbishop ofCanterbury,in990.The trail followinginthefootstepsofSigeric, lers whodecidetopursuethishistoric A rangeofecosystemsembracestravel- towns richinartandamazingflavours. lometres ofbreath-takingscenery,prized that transportswayfarersalong400ki- of the Francigena), a magical threshold Toscana dellaFrancigena”(TuscanGate minds us,engravedwiththewords“Porta the Cisa Pass. A large wooden cross re- for RomeandpiercesTuscanythrough from theGreatSt.BernardPassheading of theseancientroutes,whichdescends The Via Francigena is the most important drink andrest. embellish thetrail, offeringplacestoeat, like thevillages that,oneafteranother, gait, aresteepedinhistoryand heritage, ridges thataccompanythe hikers’ slow some ofwhicharechallenging, andthe the textilefactories.Theuphill sections, te, whichmusthavechannelled waterto old conduitscanbeseenalongtherou- too, sincehydraulicsystems,locksand was mainlysilk-centric.It’sawaterway to Bologna,wherethemanufacturing Prato, thehistoriccityofwoolproduction, della Seta, a trans-apennine route from The sameappliestotheViadellaLanae footsteps ofancientwayfarers. every yeardrivespeopletoretracethe surprising views: that’s the charm that woods andsuddenclearingsboasting need fivedaystotravelthroughthesilent day for hikers and mountain bikers. You’ll Via degliDei still fulfils that purpose to- side ofthemountainstoother.The still continuedtoguidepeoplefromone Hidden andreducedtoatrack,theroute Early MiddleAges,likemanyroadswere. fore beinglefttotheelementsin by theRomansformilitarypurposesbe- ancient Etruscan road thatwas resumed through the Mugello mountains. It’s an logna inlivingmemory,atrekkingroute degli DeithathaslinkedFlorenceandBo- 17 the ViaFrancigenaTuscany. Left andside:somestretchesof PHOTO Tuscan experience. visitors toplantheirtripforabrand-new to createanetworkofroutesthatallows Via delSale:somanywaysthatoverlap Via Romea, Via Ghibellina,Clodia and gnana beforereachingLuccaCathedral. cal sceneryoftheLunigianaandGarfa- down fromPontremolithroughthemagi- him. The Via del Volto Santo, which drops mage andthehermitagesnamedafter and energy, follows Saint Francis’ pilgri- Sanctuary, aplaceofimmensespirituality di Francesco,whichstartsattheLaVerna and centuries-oldpilgrimroutes.TheVia before continuingalonghistoricroutes that crisscrosstheirwaythroughTuscany tourism, checkoutthemanyothertrails If you have a hankering for sustainable www.viafrancigenatoscana.it and architectural charm. hostels, some of vaunt which historic Viathe Francigena, including typical 1,000 places to catch your breath line on foot or on horseback. More than legs that travelled can be by bike, This old 380km route is split into 15 through 38 municipalities in Tuscany. ancientthe roads, threading its way The Via Francigena stands out among

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCAN ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESI FORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS APENNINES THE TOSCO-EMILIAN NATIONAL PARKOF 18 designed inItaly. one ofthelongestitineraries Grande EscursioneAppenninica, enormous andincludesthe oftrekking routesvariety is natural andscenic value.The the rarest kindandphenomenal habitats withflora and fauna of the parkassembles anarray of rocky peaksandwaterfalls, moorland, blueberry-studded glacial lakes, meadows with Home togiantbeechwoods, the Apennine primrose,themountain highlands areendemic andprotectedlike Many ofthe plant speciesinthese of themostbeautifulpanoramas around. with bewitchingalpinelakes, it offersone the historicregionofLunigiana: dotted is devoted mountainhikers.Among these excess of1,800metres,allknownto The ridgeboastsothersummitswellin sea level. Prato), standingat2,054 metres above highest peakinTuscany,MontePrado(or and embracingtheLuccasideof provinces of and - mountainous terrain,touchingthe across over7,000hectaresofpurely The Tuscansideoftheparkstretches unspoiled natureandincredibleviews. and coversaround22,000hectaresof of thehighestgradeslegalprotection The parkwasfoundedin2001withone surpass analtitudeof2,000metres. Northern Apennines,wheresomepeaks and adjacentslopesofasectionthe Tosco-Emiliano stretches along the ridge the ParcoNazionaledell’Appennino regions ofTuscanyandEmiliaRomagna, The natural dividing linebetweenthe his royal majesty of the forest, the deer. the wolf; the indisputable queen of the skies, the golden eagle; and The park is also enriched by that most fascinating of predators, Monte Sillara,whichrunsdowninto www.parcoappennino.it springthe and summer. to trekking and mountain biking in cleats with traction ped winter inthe snowshoeing and equip boots hiking - in hand with outdoors from activities: dible scenery. These changes go hand asons, creating a succession of incre- change appearance their - with se the park’sThe ridges and forested slopes Appenninica (G.E.A) , around400 km of routes inItaly, theGrandeEscursione coincides with one of the longest trekking foot, especiallyonthenarrow ridgethat all fivesensesandtobediscovered on The parkisaplacetobeenjoyed with and Garfagnanaspelt. of originproductslikeLunigiana honey be foundintypicalprotecteddesignation of history.Thispreciousculturecanalso timeless charmandthousandsofyears are spread throughout the area, places of mills, shrines and parishchurches that towns areasnumerousthecastles, worship sitesfromfar-offages.Thelittle landmarks converge with places of immeasurable, inaparkwherehistorical The culturalandnaturalheritageis the forest,deer. golden eagle;andhisroyalmajestyof indisputable queenoftheskies, fascinating ofpredators,thewolf; The parkisalsoenrichedbythatmost Logarghena inLunigiana. none more so than the meadows of worthy ofanimpressionist’spaintbrush, white inspring and createsscenes wild Narcissus that turns the meadows cowslip andfieldsofjonquils,the“poetic” 19 Photos byGuidoMori Mount Prado,thehighest summitinTuscany. Above: LakeBargetanaand inthebackground the Orecchiellareserve. PhotosbyDanielePaolini Left: TowardsMountVecchio,amongthefields of PHOTO Apennines fromtheApuanRiviera. front ofWorldWarII,slicingthroughthe the GothicLineretraceshistoric headingtowardsBologna,while the Apennineforests,fromPratoand della Seta both thread their way through Via degliDeiandthedellaLanae It’s nottheonlymajorhikingtrail.The manageable insections. entirety, butlessexperthikerswillfindit into 28stagesandchallengingtodoinits journey forgreatwalkers,usuallydivided andMassa-Carrara.Thisisagreat Santi, thepassbetweenprovincesof Apennine crest until the Passo dei Due and sticks almost completely to the high Tuscany, UmbriaandLeMarchemeet, starts fromtheBoccaTrabariapass,where Inaugurated in the early 1980s, the route the northernApenninerange. footpaths thatrunfromeasttowestover

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA COLLINE METALLIFERE PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCAN ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESI FORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS CYCLINGCycle Tourism | Road Cycling | Mountain Bike | Downhill - Freeride | Gravel Bike

For single track enthusiasts in wild areas and woodlands, whe- world boast tracks as memorable as these. re pedalling means feeling free, Tuscany has much to offer. Road bikers know where to find inclines to test their legs, such From ultra trails along spectacular ridgetop routes at altitudes as the Lucca area, the Empoli hills and the Pistoia mountains. in the range of 2,000 metres, with views across both sides over Professional competitions and historic bike rallies have turned the peaks of the Tosco-Emilian Apennines. The ski lifts lead to the spotlight back on Tuscany’s gravel roads, where white dust downhill and freeride trails where adrenaline runs wild and flies up along streets that link villages and vineyards, hills and fun is guaranteed. The rest of the Apennines, from Lunigiana views: a must for every cyclist. From Chianti to Crete Senesi, to , Mugello and Casentino, is an endless web of Val di Merse, Valdelsa and Val d’Orcia, the “heroic” cycling sty- routes where you can put your mountain bike’s suspension to le is revived year-round, a vintage relationship with art, history the test. Technique and entertainment are also served in the and genuine Tuscan lifestyle. Dirt tracks and secondary roads, Apuan Alps, where the scenery changes due to the uniquely silence embraces road and gravel bikes. rocky environment, a stone’s throw from the riviera. Cycling tourists can choose an adventure surrounded by asto- Further south, welcome to enduro territory along the coast of nishing beauty: from village to village, in art-filled cities, along the Upper Maremma, a land of technical trails in the Mediterra- the Tuscan Coast, the cycle paths of Versilia, the Etruscan Co- nean scrub that lead to coves and beaches: few places in the ast or the Argentario. TUSCANY OFF-ROAD MOUNTAIN BIKE|DOWNHILL |FREERIDE 22 looking for amore relaxing experience, red firforests andbeechwoods.Ifyou’re de anddownhill cyclingsurroundedby are setupforadrenaline-fuelled freeri- the skislopesthatduring summer gravity disciplineenthusiasts thanksto tone andDoganacciaareasirencallfor In thesemountains,theski lifts ofAbe- tural beautyviewedfromtheridge. horizon while being enslaved by the na- speak aboutthefeelingofowning campsites. Cyclistswhohaveriddenhere R andcomesintheformoflodges ts, wheretheroutesfeellikeultra-trails; technical andchallengingatcertainpoin- these trails,althoughtheycertainlyget nothing extremeaboutpedallingalong peaks andsurroundingvalleys.There’s ve sealevel,withall-roundviewsofthe side routesthattouch2,000metresabo- along amazingridgewaysandmountain- reach extremealtitudes,enablingbiking trails. Themountainsarehighbutdonot destination forall-mountainandultra The Tuscany. waiting for you around every corner in Tuscany sincethere’sanoffroadtrail Mountain bikersarespoiltforchoicein Tuscany isoffroad paradise. is funnelledintoendless trails. and gravity-centred disciplines passion for mountain biking in themiddleofsea, ancient volcanotoanisland Mediterranean shrub,from an ups anddowns ofthecoastal the ApennineMountains tothe From themagicalnature of Appennino Pistoieseistheperfect the dirttracksof Sienaarea.PhotosbyMatteoDunchi Right: bymountainbikeon ColleMalamerenda,along by MonsterofImage Below: FreeridealongtherisesofMountAmiata. Photos Island.PhotosbyRobertoRidi Left: springcoloursaroundthefortressofSerraventosa, PHOTO offers myriadenduro routesthat connect gle, asfartheMassaMarittimahills, ta AlaandCastiglionedellaPescaiatrian- especially bythesea.TheFollonica,Pun- ls and the climate stays mild year-round, meets thewoodlandofMaremmahil- ranean shrub,wheretheTyrrhenianSea here meanssurrenderingtotheMediter- feelings andfunremainthesame.Riding vegetation andaromaschange,butthe Further southandalongthecoast, and visitingthemedievaltownofBarga. mous Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’sBridge) head downvalley,pedallingalongthefa- to thePassodiPradarena.Alternatively, sight of ridgeways from Monte Tondo perfumed high-altitudepasturesandthe the mountains are calling, continue to the of theApuanAlpsrisingupbeforeus.If cient glacialbasin,withthestrikingrock a vastmeadow,originatingfroman- as Campocatino,wherewecomeacross gh villagesandalongforesttrailsasfar exciting, thentherouteclimbsupthrou- water is drained. Cycling along the dam is ghost townthatonlyappearswhenthe Lago diVagli,thelakethatconcealsa ste ofmountainbiketrailsbeginsaround come lusherinGarfagnana,whereata- The Apennines descend slightly and be- stunning sceneryofLagoScaffaiolo. neraries that run from Doganaccia to the Lago Nero,onceaglacialbasin,ortheiti- such as an e-bike ride from Abetone to choose fromthemyriadcircularroutes, tions wheremountain bikingispractised. mention unusual andcharmingdestina- Even further south, we simply have to metal-bearing hills. continuing intotheCollineMetallifere inland areaasfarMassaMarittima and mountain bikers, so too does the entire res. Notonlydoesthecoast teemwith le routes, consisting of bends and sho- Pescaia withmoreentertainingandgent- The funcontinuesinCastiglionedella with backpackandhelmets. ning groundforcompetition,complete Many cyclistschoosethisterrainastrai- long, technicalandrockyupsdowns. Bandite diScarlinoreserve,thelandof the endofyourride.Nearbythere’s ght tothebeach:sunbathingensuredat relaxation duetoroutesthatleadstrai- It’s alsoagreatplacetomixsportsand to tryendurowithitsfun-filledeasytrails. nutes fromPuntaAla,istheperfectplace terranean shrub. Cala Violina, a few - mi the seaandbeacheswiththickMedi- 23 along routesleadingtoMonteCalamita. cular WorldCupedition,whichwasheld tres of tracks made famous by a specta- difficulty coveringmorethan100kilome- Park vaunts5permanenttrailsofvarying Tuscan Archipelago. The Capoliveri Bike sting viewsovertheotherislandsin is thecyclingpathsonElbaIsland,boa- itable forMTBande-bikes.Anothertip loop thatrunsaroundthevolcano,su- riders anddownhillers, in additiontoa fresh airandiswell-equippedforfree- chestnut, beechandfirforests,enjoys The age-oldAmiata volcano, withits

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN GLORIOUS CYCLING OF IN THE LAND ROAD |GRAVEL CYCLING BIKE 24 Siena. PhotosbyMatteoOltrabella Right: Maremma. PhotosbyMarioLlorca Below: ahair-pinbendbeforearrivinginPitigliano, Paolo Martelli through thevineyardsofSienaChianti.Photosby Left: theascentsanddescentsofdirttracksrunning PHOTO feel at homeinTuscany. gravel bikingenthusiastswill and thegoodlife. Road and competitiveness withfestivals combine performance and meets andhistoricrallies that continues today inprofessional was heldin1870. Thetradition competition Firenze-Empoli cycling where theworld’s first fact andlegend,it’stheregion has.Historic as longcycling Tuscany hasbeenaround for in The penchantfor cycling by bikealongthesecondaryroadsofAsciano,

routes andtheoverallorganization.Clas- high altitude,duetothewidevarietyof among grimpeurs,bikerswhoexcelat mountains, isalsoafavouritedestination The fessional cyclists. municipality, thebirthplaceofmanypro- and cycling rallies in theLamporecchio natural arenaofcountlesscompetitions dary climbssuchasSanBaronto,the experiences available locally, and legen- its thermalbaths,togiveanideaofthe which skirtedtownslike Montecatini with ted bytheWorldCyclingChampionships, These glorious gradients were celebra- sought afterfortheirhillsandmountains. d’Elsa and Valdinievole countryside are and cyclingteams,theEmpoleseVal coastline iscloseby.Landsofchampions tain intheknowledgethatVersilia scale theheightsofApuanAlps,cer- the citywallsheadforMonteSerraor the mountains with their inclines. From ams for its quality of life and vicinity to by professionalandamateurcyclingte- beauty, whoseprovinceisoftenchosen cycling cultureissecondonlytothecity’s painstakingly maintainedroadbikes.The it’s not hard to spot cyclists with their sat withanespressointhecoffeeshops, Among thestreetsandsquaresofLucca, Mugello, splitbetweenruralareaand 25 exceptional bikingaroundthe Sienaarea. dalling, istheperfectwayto explorethe celebrating thebeautifulfatigue ofpe- world’s mostfamoushistoriccyclingrally The permanent route of the with itsunforgettablecontours. prior toenteringthemagicalVald’Orcia, mystical lunargreyoftheCreteSenesi, ads asfartheredsoilofSienaand pedalling along the legendary gravel ro- We’ve reached the area south of Siena, road, gravelormixedterrainisyourbag. ding. It’sheavenforbikers,nomatterif led Tuscany,greenerandoftenspellbin- can discoveramoreintimate,lesstravel- roads offthebeatentrack,wherecyclists Valdelsa adventurous graveltracks.Thenearby ference isforsecondaryroadsormore cyclists, regardlessofwhethertheirpre- are ridden every day by small groups of of theChiantiFiorentinoandSenese the mountains.Thehills(andvineyards!) downs, and occasional surprises,than in areas liketheseduetothegentleupsand it’s easiertoaccumulategradientsinhilly in climbingandaltitudeswillknowthat never stopsenchantingcyclists.Experts Central Tuscany,fromFlorencetoSiena, ticosa Pass,reachablefromFirenzuola. Another favouriteforclimbersistheRa- of myriadbattlesduringtheGirod’Italia. 903 metresabovesealevel,thescene della CrocettaandPassoFutaat sic trailsforroadcyclistsaretheValico and Val diMerseofferendless L’Eroica, the

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN TUSCANY’S SCENERY TUSCANY’S PEDALLING THROUGH CYCLE TOURISM|BIKEPACKINGCYCLE 26 of thepeople who inhabitedtheselands Mediterranean shrubandthevestiges dulterated beauty nestledbetweenthe the from thesea.FromLivornoto , ancient historyofthedune just metres the nextunexpectedencounter withthe the nextbend,view ofthesea, every shadeofblueinaracetochase The entireTuscanCoastservesup ried andaffordableforall. od bythesea.Tuscany’shospitalityisva- campsite orwhethertorestinapinewo- a bedandbreakfast,thesimplicityof the quietudeofhills,authenticity mhouse accommodationembracedby comfort ofahotel,thecharmfar- It’s uptoyouwhetherstayinthe sites. towns andcities,EtruscanRoman pinewoods tonaturereserves,skirting villages totheopencountryside,from scovery ofdestinations,frommedieval mountain androadbikersintheirdi- el travellers.Theregion’sroadsescort Tuscany isnevershyaroundtwo-whe- your loveofnature. outdoor museum where you can regain and theArgentarioheadlandprovidesan Siena areaoffersbreath-takingscenery Italy, theViaFrancigena.Alsobybike, region alongthemostfamousroutein In 8days,cyclistscantraveltheentire is nottherightplaceforyou. you’re lookingforamonotonoustrip,this passes, hillsgaloreandcoastalroutes:if few. Slownessisthebuzzword.Mountain never belongenoughanditsbendstoo bike’s saddlebags,Tuscany’sroadswill If everythingyouneedfitsintoyour local specialities. well asafew stopstosavour with nature andhistory, as for unexpected encounters slowly, leaving enoughtime region shouldbeexplored along Tuscany’s trails. The your wheelsare two welcome travellers andbikepackers, have tothinkabout. Cycling where pedallingisall you to bediscovered andothers There are stillsomeroads left Etruscan Coastisacanvasofuna - of life. eclectic land,where farmingisstillaway se ofaridethat crisscrossesarichand Tour dellaMaremmaoffersthepromi - which wayintheMaremma. TheGrand primitive naturereignssupreme every mac roads,historictowns and silence, From theplaintohills,gravel ortar- Fiaba (“FairytaleRoad”inEnglish). inspired byPinocchioorridetheViadella lodi toseethemuseumandthemepark will makeanycyclisthappy.StopinCol- although alltheroadsandhillsinarea the museumthatfocusesonhislegacy, original bicycle drawings, you can visit prototypes andinventionalsoinclude Vinci’s birthplace, whose innumerable ld-famous puppet, Pinocchio. In Vinci, Da blends LeonardoDaVinciwiththewor- and Further inland,betweenMontalbano boat rideamongthereeds. you with its myriad hues at sunset for a the beaches. Ifyoufancymoreadventure, of bathingestablishmentsandequipped route hugstheseawithitslongcortege the coast. FromMassa to the to takeadipintheseawhilebikingalong among enthusiastsforallthosewishing The cork oaks. Cornia, surroundedbydenseshruband am, onebendafteranotherintheValdi to turn intomerecentimetres. The Sassetta the presentfromEtruscancivilization delle Fate, the 2,500 years that separate lonia acropolistoCalaMoresca,viaBuca before theRomanage.FromPopu- route is every cyclist’s dre- Lago diMassaciuccoliiswaitingfor Valdinievole, check out thetrail that Versilia Cyclewayismuchloved 27 Castle ofMonteriggioni. PhotosbyMatteoDunchi Side: cyclistsontheViaFrancigena, tothehorizon Photos byCostantina Pozzi ancient abbeyofSanGalgano,inChiusdino. Left: pedallinginValdiMerse,tothebackground the PHOTO comparable feelingoffreedom. choice totravellightisrepaidwithanin- there’s noshortageofcomfort,butthe best experienceimaginable.InTuscany dependent cycling,bikepackingisthe enough towithstandafewdaysofin- the famousViadegliDei,ifyou’rehardy nigiana, fromtheuntamedApenninesto for offroad.FromtheMaremmatoLu- nimum andlighterbikesalsosuitable technical gearreducedtothebaremi- venture with a bikepacking spirit, with All ofinlandTuscanywasmadeforad- entire valley. na, boastingbreath-takingviewsoverthe to theancientEtruscantownofCorto- includes adetourwithniceinclineup rect itinerarybetweenArezzoandChiusi farming area, famous for its food. The di- to reclaim and transform this important the GrandDukeofTuscanyLeopoldo Chiana, awaterwaycommissionedby Follow the Canale Maestro della Val di the SentierodellaBonificacycleroute. Another rideontheflatisprovidedby

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN AROUND ALL CYCLING 28 Gravity mania homes prove excellent travel companions. in thecountryside, andhotels andhistoric along thecoast, farmhouse accommodation along theTuscan Coast. Campingsites trackshaste, plusthere are thecycling culture, always worth visitingwithout towns andvillagesbursting withartand tourist,cycling theregion isdottedwith areas. Even for themostcool andcollected as muchinTuscany’s mountainous Then there’s lotsofmountain biking,almost roads, for road orgravel bike enthusiasts. that runalongsidelittle-used secondary rush totheendless ofdirttracks network those wholove agravity andadrenaline From extreme differences ingradient for for acoffee. breath-taking square inwhichtostop of SienastandsPiazzadelCampo, a be usedallyearround.Inthe middle permanent andwell-signposted, can sts. Someitineraries,incertain cases legendary areas,amustdofor cycli- ti, CreteSenesiandVald’Orciainto rope, hasmadetheroutesofChian- southernmost roadbikeraceinEu- the world,andStradeBianche, famous historiccyclingeventin are everywhere.L’Eroica,themost because thelegendarydirttracks In Tuscany,gravelmeanseverything magic ofanancientvolcano. biker amenities,mountainairandthe in thefarsouthofregion:expect can befoundaroundMonteAmiata, Other gradientsthatmovevisitors ched byacablewayover900metres. the very active Doganaccia, also rea- height of700metres.Nearbythere’s a cablecarthatcoversdifferencein largest bikeparksinItaly,servedby Abetone GravityParkisoneofthe downhill andfreerideenthusiasts. The Apenninesboaststwodrawsfor Paradiso gravel 04 01 ground forcyclists. pe andhillsoffer theperfecttraining too, anareawhere therurallandsca- of Casoled’Elsa.Mugellois amust spending thenightatbike hotels the rooflessSanGalgano Abbey or in onegoorstages,witha stopat Val diMerse Grand Tour can be done setta andSuvereto.The172kmofthe one bendafteranothertowardsSas- ,continuingwith cypress trees between and roads thatrunthroughvineyardsand bends andniceplacestoeat.Testthe le-used secondaryroads,gradients, The road cyclist is a collector of litt- edom not far from the Tuscan capital. well known to enthusiasts. Total fre- easy andmoretechnicalstretches, mountains, areanotherarea,with ro tracksofRincine,intheFlorence xation withothersports.Theendu- couriers intending to alternate rela- dash ofMediterraneanflavourfor “reserves” forendurolovers,witha the moststrikingandbest-equipped Massa Marittimainlandthere’soneof della Pescaia along the coast and Between PuntaAlaandCastiglione Trail area Road &valleys 05 02 29 less opportunitiesforadip. tally besidethesea,itoffers count- most “coastal”cyclepathin Italy: to- on thebeach.InVersiliathere’s the and naturereservesbefore finishing ning Fenigliaspit,throughpinewoods Argentario headland,alongthestun- Pedalling along the cycle tracks of the enticement comesfromthecoast. north tosouth,stagebystage.Other crosses thewholeofTuscanyfrom long andinterestingcyclewaythat The ancientViaFrancigenaisthe burners. blestones andtracksofthecharcoal trails oftheLamaforest,cob- forests: along a former railway, the dal inthefreshairofCasentino most magicallight.Alternatively,pe- and red, showing the forests in their the autumn,woodsturnorange is thevalleyofahundredcastles.In en seaandmountains,theLunigiana for e-biketours.Aborderlandbetwe- vours formtheperfectcombination to visitvillagesandtastelocalfla- Spellbinding naturewiththechance E-Bike Slow touring 06 03

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN FORESTS THE CASENTINESI NATIONAL PARKOF 30 some ofthefinest forests in Europe. We tiptoein,reassured by therichesof that visitorsstillsensetoday.spirituality ancient beechtrees breathing inthe have trodden thetrails intheshadeof with thedivine.Monks,saintsandhermits centuries thefaithful have soughtcontact hectares ofnature where for 36,000 They’re alsoknown astheSacred Forests: Casentinesi Forests. PhotosbyGiordanoGiacomini Above: adeerintheparkand thethickwoodlandof Mount Penna. Left: thedeLaVernaFranciscansanctuary,built on PHOTO www.parcoforestecasentinesi.it car.gle solitude without coming across a sin- mountain bike and on horseback in trails that walked, explored can be by ver park the is over of 600km nature plantbest The way species. - to disco and species mal approximately 1,000 environment for hundreds of ani- by mountains and offers perfect a protected by vegetation hindered only en Tuscany and Romagna. Emilia It’s across 36,000hectares midway- betwe Monte Falterona eCampigna extends The Parco delle ForesteCasentinesi, The immobility andsilenceoftheunder- stood stillbeneath thecanopies. witnesses totimethatfeels likeithas These gigantictreesofrare beautyare bed asaUNESCOWorldHeritage site. ch are600yearsold,have been inscri- Cathedral. Its beechwoods, some of whi- the search for timber to build Florence thanks to its impassable terrain survived maining virginforestsinEurope,which foot forcenturies.Itisoneofthelastre- oasis wherehumanbeingshavenotset Sasso Fratinonaturereserve,aprotected in Europe.Itsgreenheartisfoundthe vegetation ofsomethefinestforests growth, thehorizoniscaressedby As the trail emerges from the under- nature reserve. profound spiritualitythatresidesinthis Verna Sanctuaryarevividvestigesofthe degli Idoli,CamaldoliHermitageandLa sed downtoourguardianship.TheLago sparking asymbiosisthathasbeenpas- mans haveknownhowtoprotectthem, man formillennia,andmillenniahu- are known,havebeenfrequentedbyhu- passage. These“SacredForests”,asthey tiptoe withoutleavingatraceofone’s tected landdeservetobediscoveredon Romagna, the36,000hectaresofpro- Midway betweenTuscanyandEmilia be understoodbywalkingtheirtrails. a historicnaturalpatrimonythatcanonly nesi, MonteFalteronaeCampignaguard dges oftheParcodelleForesteCasenti- to thepassingoftime.Thewoodsandri- strip thetrees,afixturebearingwitness search ofthetruth,drivinghumansto guided saintsandhermitsinperpetual These forestshaveinspiredpoetsand 31 of deerhiddenintheautumn foliage. wind during a summer storm, the mewing the densefirforeststhattremblein pounding ArnoRiverasthesnowthaws, fer. Thequietudeofasnowyclearing,the li, to summercrossingsofLagodiRidraco- From winter walks wearing snowshoes Sacre (HolyForestsTrail). mysticism oftheSentierodelleForeste Appenninica, embrace the silence and the solitudeofGrandeEscursione Falterona andMonteFalco,getlostin Choose theroutestotopofMonte discovery. the harmonyandrichness that warrant trails aretheonlymeansofintensifying lennia. Leaveyourcarathomeasthe perpetuated thenaturallifecycleformil- soon forgotteninanecosystemthathas trace thatwillremainofourtimehere, way tovisitit.Ourfootstepsaretheonly through theparkaremostsurprising Six hundredkilometresoftrailsthreading the woodwhenintruderstreadhere. as the song of dozens of birds that avert mouflon and the predatory wolf, as well anemones andnarcissi, wild boar,deer, species, centuries-old ash trees, fragile ecosystem richinlife:over1,000plant its undisturbedgrowth,strengtheningan forsook thisland,thevegetationresumed constant flux. Since humans practically growth concealthelushestofnaturein the parkalwayshassomethingtoof-

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA COLLINE METALLIFERE PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCAN ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESICASENTINESI FORESTSFORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS ALPI APUANE PARCO DELLE 32 and world-famous marble. spectacular peaks,rocky arches of theApuansswitchbetween hikers andclimbers,thecontours suffix ofAlps.Achallenge for landforms have earnedthearea’s wildest inTuscany. Theharsh environment that’s amongthe Apuans comprise animpressive bowels ofthemountain, the well ascaves that leadintothe sides andsheerrocky crags as The deepestofvalleys,steep majestic andsurreal landscape. the chalkymetamorphic rock,creatinga ring andthemining industryhaveshaped decorating buildingsworldwide. Weathe- of MichelangeloandCanova, aswell were extractedandcarved by thelikes sins fromwhichblocksofwhite marble These rangesencompassthe marbleba- Tambura, CavalloandPaniadellaCroce. mits toweringabove1,500mlikeMonte peak, followedbynumerousothersum- Monte Pisaninoat1,946 m isthehighest almost 2,000metresabovesealevel: sive massifsriseupabruptly,touching A fewkilometresfromthecoast,impres- sea. a stripoflandthatseparatesitfromthe ley, andtothewestbyVersiliaplain, and south by the river Serchio and its val- the northbyriverMagra,toeast sa-Carrara provincesandisborderedto 20,000 hectaresintheLuccaandMas- The parkextendsacrossapproximately Alpi Apuane. establishing theParcoRegionaledelle me aprotectednaturereservein1985, versity totheextentthatareabeca- special habitats and unimaginable biodi- position andvariednaturehavecreated their rockypinnacles.Thegeographical up outoftheseatotouchskywith Italy, theApuanAlpslookliketheyrise A uniquemountainrangeinthewholeof famous cured meat LardodiColonnata.. can taste local specialities such as the nery andafewfoodfestivals whereyou prehistory, offeringunmistakable sce- of geology,floraandfauna, historyand Alps are a precious environment in terms Older thantheApennines,Apuan here intheIceAge. the snowvole,asmallrodentthatcame for thesteepslopes.Thearea’srarityis wild boarroamthewoods;mouflonhead of thegrottoes.Ungulateslikedeerand le the speleomantes prefers thedarkness their homeinthestreamsandrivers,whi- mander andtheApuanalpinenewt,make Amphibians, suchasthespectacledsala- gh, whichhasbecomethepark’ssymbol. choughs andtherarerred-billedchou- are circledbyperegrinefalcons,alpine plus avarietyofecosystemswhoseskies higher altitudes with flowers of all shades, ch treesgivewaytomountainpasturesat ne nature to live. Oak, chestnut and bee- to rareendemicspeciesthatneedpristi- area isrichinhistoryandhabitats,home speckle themoreaccessibleslopes.The castles, fortificationsandsanctuariesthat and prehistoricrelics.It’salandofmyriad less vestiges of ancient nomadic peoples pulated sincedistanttimeswithcount- The narrow Apuan valleys have been po- 33 Below: amarblequarryintheApuanAlps. Mount Altissimo.PhotosbyMatteoDunchi Gothic LinealongtheApuanAlps;onsummitof Left andside:viewofMountFolgorito,passthe PHOTO www.parcapuane.it visited.can be throughout area, the many of which are more actually than 1,000 caves are most the famous, although there del Corchia and Grotta diEqui Terme sident fauna. Grotta del Vento, Antro tant interms of minerals and re their - grottoes thatspectacular are impor karstauty; phenomena have created ground landscapes of- rare be fragile ld Heritage site, encompass under The ApuanAlps, aUNESCO Wor - - -

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA COLLINE METALLIFERE PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCAN ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESI FORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS WATER SPORTS Rafting | Canyoning | Swamp Cruise | Kayak - Canoe | Surfing - Kitesurfing Sup | Sailing | Snorkeling | Fishing | Diving

More than 600 kilometres of coastline, split between islands ce about the wind as surfers, wind and kite, wait for the right and the Tyrrhenian Sea, plus the streams and rivers that flow wave. through the rocks of the Alps and Apennines. Not only relaxa- tion and wide-ranging views, but fun and adventure too. On or The mountains and forests of inland Tuscany are endowed under the surface, Tuscany offers countless activities for water with waterways. Garfagnana and Lunigiana, Montagna Pistoie- lovers, while rivers and streams wait to be tamed in the region’s se and Casentino are home to exciting action-packed activi- woodlands and nature reserves. Every outdoor experience in- ties. Whether you choose the thrill of white water rafting or spires excitement and emotions, from an adrenaline rush to fe- opt for the calm of SUP, from canoeing to kayaking, Tuscany’s elings of freedom. Behind every activity there’s a community of waterways are perfect for people looking for something new enthusiasts, from north to south, in well-known and evocative to do as well as those who already know how to domineer the areas: Versilia, Etruscan Coast, Maremma and the Silver Coast currents that inevitably lead to the sea. Being at one with aqua- as well as the mesmerizing islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. tic nature is recommended to everyone who, oblivious to the On shore, the skippers and their crews exchange friendly advi- seasons, yearns for the freedom to go exploring. nes thatwefind intheApenninefoothills that inspiredDante andhisinfernalsce- reflected intheirdepths.Like thecanyon cal ages.Youcanevenglimpse thesky same riverswiththepassing ofgeologi- gorges carved deep into the rock by the the currenttodiscoverextraordinary every level:venturingupstream against venture ortwo.Canyoningpermeateson natural elementanddiveintoawaterad- re thesewaters,sojustsurrendertothe It’s hardtoresistthetemptationexplo- pe thatisasidyllicitwild. throughout theregion,carvingalandsca- spring tothevalley,freshwaterflows source oflife,gushesforth.Fromthe mountain ranges,wherewater,themain Tuscany’s contoursaretoppedwithhigh water sports. lush landandahaven of that have madeTuscany a water’s surface, alongrivers explored onorunderthe wild andwonderful nature currents andbeimmersedin Let yourself becarriedby the OF THERIVER THE THRILL fagnana also offers myriad paddlingad- rapids whilehaving thebestoffun.Gar- perfect forunsinkablerafts, ridingthe Some rivershavecarvedwider valleys, in Tuscany. ved insomeoftheloveliest freshwater gnana ascanyoningexperiencesare ser- to doatRioSelvanoandSerrainGarfa - faces. Jumpingandslidingarethethings Stretti diGiaredowithitsliverredrock always looking up to the skies at the around ourlegsandevenuptowaist, and striking,worthexploringwithwater giana concealsaplacethat’sbothwild only onelikethisinTuscany.TheLuni- It’s anunusuallandscapebutit’snotthe the climate lower than their usual habitat. to theextentthatbeechtreesgrowin particularly freshanddampmicroclimate affording lowlightfiltrationandcreatinga points, thecanyonwallsdrawveryclose, that climbupinsearchoflight.Atcertain sually shapedbeechtreesontheslopes covered inluxuriantvegetationwithunu- faces reachheightsof200metres,is canyon inTuscany,whosesheerrock mans have never interfered. The deepest a magicalruggedlandscapewherehu- very narrowatpoints,surroundedby near Lucca:theOrridodiBotri,acanyon, 36 ture, skirtinghistoric villagesandeven of nature,we cross throughpristinena- Paddle inhandandgoingwith theflow catch somerays. vers, withafewbeacheswhere youcan ven for birdwatchers and water sports lo- pink flamingo,craneandosprey. It’shea- rare birdspeciessuchasthe whitestork, nello Oasisisawetlandthat’shometo biodiversity. TheWWF-managedGabbia- nature reservethat’satreasuretroveof northeast shoresofthelakethere’sa canoeing and kayaking facilities. On the your thirstforthegreatoutdoorswithits ch isoneofthelargestinItaly,quenches man-made lakeintheMugelloarea,whi- Bilancino istherightplaceforyou.The If you’re a fan of still water, the kayaking experiences. riverside trekkingandsoftcanoeing in theMaremmaofferssomeunexpected river nines flowsasfarCentralTuscany:the The waterthatdescendsfromtheApen- gettable. like theLima,whosegorgesareunfor- slopes along fast-flowing foaming rivers place tobeintroducedtheactivity, experiences intheSerchioRiver,agreat ventures at every level, fromeasy-going Elsa aroundSienaandtheOmbrone Lago di CANYONING |RAFTINGKAYAKCANYONING Council ofPontremoli. PhotosbyWeLiveExplore Right: thestraitsofGiaredo, naturalcanyonsinthe channels inCocciglia. PhotosbyDavidBonaventuri Left andtop:RaftingontheRiverLimainits PHOTO by white water rapids. faces to valleys crisscrossed gorges with the tallest rock from settings, extraordinary to enjoy action sports in opportunities offer waterways beyond, Tuscany’s many The Apennine slopes and freshing ravines. the rivers and discovering the most re- by SUP,theperfectwayofexperiencing south andcanbeenjoyedexplored Tuscany’s waterwaysflowfromnorththe the mobilityimpaired. experience that’saccessibletoall,even city inthegreatoutdoors.TrySUPforan brand-new way of getting to know the It’s awayofgoingagainstthecurrent, of Florencearerevealedasifbymagic. sing perspectivesandcuriouspanoramas or inaraftalongtheriverArno,surpri- arriving incitycentres.Bykayak,canoe 37

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN needed tobe setfree. and developthewings the wind,take onthe waves who, onaboard powered by theme parkfor adventurers Tuscan Coast isamarine kitesurfing isamust, the surfing isa raison d’être and Looking for waves? When OF THEWIND ON THEWINGS EXPLORE THECOAST, SURF |KITESURFWINDSURFSUP approach tothe currents.TheTuscan right equipment anda“whodares,wins” try andwinds totakeflightwiththe are wavesworthriding,acrobatics to but enthusiastsknowthat, here, there are equallypopular in theChiantihills, hard tothinkthatsomeofthese sports mind exoticsettingsandbeaches. It’s kitesurfing andwindsurfingbringto that canbeenjoyedinTuscany.Surfing, hand tothemanyoutdoorexperiences The windandthewavesgiveahelping 38 open arms everyone who performs the call of the sea. Versiliawelcomeswith comes between thesurferandsiren so thateverythingisready and nothing must bedonebeforeentering thewater, staying truetotheminute ritualsthat to prepare,withallthetime youneed, is notapossibility,theperfect place Idrovora. Thebeach,wheresunbathing north oftheMassaMarittimaport: A haven of tranquillity stands to the Coast canbeenjoyedyear-round. winds to take flight.” acrobatics to and try waves worth riding, that, here, there are Enthusiasts know Maremma coast,invitesustogolooking The sea gods. feelings that only the new Mercury-style swollen kitesandwingsattheirfeet, and experiencetheVersiliabreezewith Kitesurfing fanscanlistentothewind this magicalstretchoftheTuscancoast. instruction fromoneoftheschoolsalong spirit ofadventure,seekingprofessional the waveswithanewconfidence-filled the talentofothers,decidetotakeon launch pad for those who, inspired by Who knowsifthispierwillbecomea freedom onthejettyofFortedeiMarmi. fearful, can only imagine the salty taste of for thosewho,awestruckandsomewhat impossible out at sea, a dream come true Photos byRobertoRidi Right: Photos byDanieleBettazzi Below: windsurfingintheArgentariosea. the ElbaIslandsea.PhotosbyRobertoRidi Left: inthebackdrop,summitsofCorsicabehind PHOTO Tyrrhenian Sea,whichcaressesthe a surferridingthewavesofElbaIsland.

endless majestyofhissaltwaterrealm who, perched in a palanquin, admires the windsurfing, moving us likea sovereign inside thekiteandharnessingitthrough of seawinds,capturingtheirpower beneath thesurfboardofthoseinpursuit della PescaiaandTalamoneBayextend Argentario headland gifts us, Castiglione before encountering the beauty that the the Midway betweentheMaremmaand Ansedonia. read totamethetreacherouswavesof throws down the gauntlet to surfers of thebluedepths,whilecoastline breathing inthecleanairanddreaming seven islandsoftheTuscanArchipelago, on thehorizonforsevenpearls, Silver Coast (Costa d’Argento), 39 in theopensea. more relaxing adventure by SUP or kajak The alternative’s not bad either: enjoy a your windsurfintotheblueofwaves. you havetodoisdecidewherepoint for allagesandlevelsofpreparation.All surfing schoolswithequipmenttohire beaches arehometomanysailingand wind blows ceaselessly. The best-known Elba isevidentlyalargeislandwherethe the daytocome. dark moonlitexpanse,fullofpromisefor without everstoppingtoobservethe to restwiththetirednessofnight, before seekingshelterinhisapartments,

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN BLUE GOLD IN TUSCANY’S SNORKELING |DIVING 40 adventurers. offersof thesea,where evenhistory ahandto seeing themosthiddenandlittlefrequented part they don’t seemreal, theexperience consists in Surrounded by coral, fishand colours sointense and islandsofTuscany toexplore marinenature. Plunge intocontemplation ofthecoastal seabeds who diveintothebluecounterbalancing thesky. Underwater treasures onlydiscoverable tothose Photos byRiccardo Buralli Right: deep-waterdivingon thebedsoffElbaIsland. Photos byRobertoRidi Left andabove:snorkellingintheElbaIslandsea. PHOTO seven islandsknownasthe“Pearlsof There’s atreasurechestbeneaththe to peoplewhoapproachthemgently. varieties of fish that show their colours are differentagain,hometocountless depths ofMaremmaaroundGrosseto disappeared centuriesago.Therocky still hidetheremainsofacivilizationthat destination whosesandyseabedscould port andcommercialhub,nowatourist Gulf of , once a flourishing Etruscan dive intoitswatersthemysteriesof The protection. guaranteed byyearsofenvironmental destinations, oasesofunderwaterbeauty surface, revealthemselvesasultimate the islands,luminouspearlson coast giftsheightenedemotionsand For sea-lovingexplorers,theTuscan beneath thelayeroflightwhereweswim. conceals wondersjustafewmetres something absolutelynewsinaseathat who wanttoexplore,discoverandfind do notstopatthesurfaceofthings,but themselves incontemplation,thosewho activities forpeoplewholovetoimmerse Snorkelling and diving are perfect Etruscan Coasttellstothosewho exist in the Mediterranean. the varieties of marine flora and fauna that During just one dive you’ll find practically all blend in a symbiotic ecosystem that has formed. Natural artandhumanlabour which an unusual yellow sponge wall has can encounter a statue of Christ behind that existintheMediterranean!) Hereyou all thevarietiesofmarineflora andfauna (During just one dive you’ll find practically be foundhere,frommultiple lifeforms. numerous underwatertreasures can A protected nature zone since 1971, embracing somethingtrulyamazing. off ScogliettodiPortoferraiomeans and coralformasinglepart.Diving these depths,of which anemones,octopi and seagrassarchitecturethatdistinguish Island meansbeingastonishedbythefish discover. GoingsnorkellingoffElba pressure transforms into adesire to below the surface, where the water incredible and beautiful a few metres the of Venusinlovestillreverberate the Mediterranean”,wherewords Tuscan Archipelago,aplaceso 41 who aren’tbound bytheseasons. around GiglioIsland year roundfor those and departure pointsofacircularroute at thefarsouthrepresent both arrival the northandPuntadelCapel Rosso The lighthousesofPuntadel Fenaioin visitors. barracuda, happilyswimming around home tolobsters,eaglerays,sunfishand we canseeapristineunderwaterworld, well preserved. Through a diving mask, for 150years,keepingitsenvironment , anislandclosedtothepublic Marvels canalsobefoundbeneath beds andevercrystal-clearwater. ripe withopportunitiestoflipperpastsea origins hasmadethecoastrockyand love tosnorkel.Theisland’svolcanic Capraia spirit andanopenmind. studied, onlywithacertainawe,pure mutation, whichcanbeobserved,even remained fixedintime,albeitconstant is a true paradisefor people who

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN 42 photographers; stopoffinOrbetello,a entice sunworshippers, fishermenand d’Argento) offers sandy gems that Pescaia, whiletheSilverCoast (Costa Grosseto andvisitingCastiglione della after thebeachesofMaremma and Piombino,beforemaking landfall Marina diPisaheadingforCastiglioncello in sports like surfing; sail south, rounding fantastic place either to rest or to indulge and towns:Viareggio,inVersilia,isa dropping anchortoexplorebeaches wishing tonavigatetheopenseasor different and interesting, for those Numerous routesareonoffer,all faithful oldfeelings. wind inpursuitofnewexperiencesand cut throughthewavesandharness mind ofanadventurer,invitationto people withaseafaringsoulandthe Tuscany’s Tyrrheniancoastlinebeckons choose thesailboat. is the adventure that awaits those who reach anewlandandport:this knowing thatsoonerorlaterwewill toward the fixed line of the horizon, ourselves fromterrafermaandlooking Casting off,settingsail,distancing where itbeganitsjourney. Thisiswhere thesailor, anadventurer ofthewater, The windinthesailblows theboat toward newhorizons, far from theshores experiences theheadiestoffeelings andunderstands of thedepthofbeauty Tuscany’s coastline, settingsailtoward landorouttoward theendless blue. THE TYRRHENIAN THE TYRRHENIAN DISCOVERED BY around SAILBOAT Sanctuary, atriangular areabetween enter what’s known astheCetacean On agoodday’ssailingyou caneven as circumnavigatingElbaIsland itself. of the adventurer can reachtheislands the entireArchipelago.From here, pivotal pointfromwhich to explore Out ofthesevenislands,Elbais to bediscovered. maritime trenches, forgotten and waiting concealed intheremotestdepthsof us fearfullywiththe centuries-old secrets unusual greyishbluehue,whichtempts sail, whileinthewintertheytakeonthat moving paintinginwhichyoucouldset the islandwatersresembleanever- shades ofblueandgreen,inthesummer their brightcoloursandshimmering never disappointtrueseafarers.With The islandsoftheTuscanArchipelago them. with theirtalesonceyougettoknow appearance; theyarehereyearround don’t waitforthesummertomakean equally truethatthecoastanditslocals that sunbathingisasummerpastime,it’s gateway totheArgentario.Whileit’strue Pianosa andCapraiaeasily,aswell SAILING |FISHING SAILING 43 could set sail.. moving painting in which you island waters resemble an ever- and green, in the summer the shimmering shades of blue With their bright colours and Filippo Franceschi Left: sailingofftheTuscan Archipelago.Photosby PHOTO fauna cannotbetouched! under environmentalprotection,soits , afavouritewithdivers,is season. ThezonearoundScogliettodi some portareas,especially during high restrictions. Fishingisnotpermittedin enjoy thesewaters,althoughthereare Professional or amateur fisherman will inspection by sailingandfishinglovers. which withGiannutrideservetheirown navigation toandaroundGiglioIsland, lighthouses attractattentionanddirect and dolphinsareoftensighted.Two Elba, CapraiaandCorsicawherewhales

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN AROUND ALL DIVING 44 beaches are waiting for you! exploring, Tuscany andits a spiritofadventure andgo year round. Come armedwith and sportsare onoffer all wide range ofoutdooractivities coastline it’snosurprisethat a countless kilometres of From aregion that vaunts Surfing Pioneers SUP esurffor all 04 of viewunder the PonteVecchio to seethecity fromadifferentpoint on offerthe ArnoriverinFlorence similar possibilities. Accessible SUP is sabilities. Cecina’sbeachesalso offer individuals withdifferenttypes ofdi- portunities tosurfanddo SUP for disabled surfingteam,offering op- athletes andassistantsoftheItalian the Tyrrhenian coast are popular with thanks tosport.Thebeachesalong Tourism becomesaccessiblealso as thesurfingcapitalofItaly. national soil,Versiliaisstillregarded turers who imported surfing tothe “pioneers oftheboard”,seaadven- ght hereinTuscany.Thankstothese get togripswiththissportstartedri- In Italy,thefirstgroupofsurfersto 01 Civilizations Traces ofAncient 02 make theentireGulfshinetoo. rous residuesthat,shininginthesun, the darkshadeofsandduetofer- mes, whosetracesarestill found in was workedlocallyhereinancientti- traces ofacenturies-oldactivity.Iron diately makes an impact, bearing the grey-black colour of the sand imme- ch of the Gulf of Baratti, the unusual Having landedonthebeautifulbea- tradition. clubs along the coast testify to the won itsfreedom.Themany sailing me Republics.Inthe11thcentury, and Pisa was one of the four Mariti - the age when business was thriving trail, atreasurehuntforcluesabout a cuetostarthistoryandsports ferent outdoorsports,mightprovide The coastal Pisa area, suitable for dif- Republican Pisa 05 45 of theGreat In TheFootsteps same name. vel starring the famous count of the tion behindAlexandreDumas’sno- Tuscan Archipelago, was the inspira- the sevenislandsthatcomprise the public.MontecristoIsland,oneof Martino, bothofwhichareopento the VilladeiMulinianddiSan en 1814and1815.Hisresidenceswere the islandduringhisfirstexilebetwe- ces. NapoleonBonapartestayedon anchor neartheNapoleonicresiden- rest intheisland’shistory,dropping Sailing aroundElbamightsparkinte- the LimaRiver. SUP (StandUpPaddleboarding) along plumb forthemorerelaxingoption of ling suspendedintheairbycables or absolute safety:gocanyoning, absei- unique activitiescanbeenjoyedin play starringroles.It’saplacewhere ture park,wherewaterandnature The ValdiLimaisanoutdoor adven- 03 Suspended over theRiver 06

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN NATURE PARK ARCHIPELAGO THE TUSCAN 46 in Europe. largest marinenature reserve ecosystem. Welcome tothe forand respect anextraordinary navigating hiking,sport between admiring andrespecting, worth visiting,discovering, sevensisters andhistory: myth vaunting singularities,cloaked in one different totheothers,each Seven islands,sevengems,each to thenorthandFarodiCapelRosso the endsofisland,FarodelFenaio landscape. Thetwolighthousesfoundat have nowbecomecharacteristicofthe where humanshavebuiltterracesthat sheer cliffsthatdropdowntothesea, almost amirrorimageofthemyriad The littlecovesofGiglioIslandare its underwatertreasurestodivers. over theisland,whilePortoferraioreveals bike routes,whichthreadtheirwayall reached onhikingtrailsandbymountain the highestpeakonisland,canbe faraway exotic beaches; Monte Capanne, by aseasoclearthatitremindsusof The mainislandisElba,surrounded for activetourists. nature parkinEurope,amajorattraction now theArchipelagoislargestmarine Many areasenjoyedprotectedstatusand no doubtsthattheyaregenuinegems. islands is the stuff of legends, there are Although thedivineoriginofthese Nature Park. that comprisetheTuscanArchipelago stayed afloat,becomingthesevenislands on dryland.Insteadofsinking,thepearls to reachEroswhowaswaitingforher out of the sea foam, the goddess sought dropped intothesea.Bornasawoman seven pearlsfromAphrodite’snecklace of land“linked”tothemainlandsince Tuscan coastanditsislands,patches There’s somethingeternalaboutthe s the largest marine nature park in Europe. there are no doubts that they are genuine gems: the Archipelago i Although the divine origin of these islands isthe stuff of legends, look aftertheenvironment. prison whoseinmatesworkthelandand in theArchipelago,whichishometoa most northerlyislandandthesmallest mirroring thesky,whileGorgonais glitters inthemiddleofbluesea, Giannutri, acrescent-shapedislandthat These fiveislandsheadsouthasfar surrounded byuniquefauna. the island’scustodianandhisfamily, year: theonlypeoplewholivehereare people canarriveonitsshoresevery a protected nature reserve. Only a few famous bookafterhe’dvisiteditisnow The islandonwhichDumassethis figure conjuredupbyMontecristo. Less historicandmore“novel”isthe from theothersixislands. oddly flatstructurethatdistinguishes it extends nearPianosa,namedafterthe untamed nature.Anabundanceoflife unusual beauty,imbuedwithwild, island whoserockyenvironmentinstils Capraia isdifferentagain,avolcanic stroke ofluck,you’llmeetonalonghike. rare andprotected wild fauna that, with a lush Mediterraneanscrubechoesinthe the south,pointwayforsailors.The 47 the TuscanArchipelago. PhotosbyRobertoRidi Outdoor activitiesand visitsinnaturetheislandsof PHOTO www.islepark.it of 1,018metres. Archipelago,the reaches an altitude Monte Capanne, in highest the peak . Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri and cludes four islands entirety: intheir diversity across its and 791.6km2 in- no.park The protects a wealth of bio- Piombino and Porto diSanto Stefa- thatferries leave year all round from and Giglio, reached can be by easily chipelago. The main islands, Elba Tuscan up thatislands make the Ar The National Park consists seven of -

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA COLLINE METALLIFERE PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCANTUSCAN ARCIPELAGO ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESI FORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS SKI & SNOW Ski | Alpine Ski | Snowboard | Snowshoes

A white blanket covers the mountains of Tuscany all winter to the feet. It’s pure adrenaline too, which builds as you climb long, continuing into the first days of spring and making an early the mountain slope and explodes on the descent down to the appearance at the end of autumn. The snow paves the way to a valley. Free or slalom, downhill skiing is one of the most enter- season of action sports, the outdoors, fun and creativity. All we taining ways to spend your time in the snow. But it’s not the must do is choose what activity to try and where to do it. Snow only way. Snowboarding is exciting with one thrill after another lovers, take heed, because you’ll be spoilt for choice. Downhill on long days, always ready for a last-minute ride. skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, whatever your favou- Boards aside, we stick rackets on our feet for amazing hikes rite discipline, from the Alps to the Apennines, from the famous into the snowy woods. Step by step, one footprint after another resort of Abetone, to Monte Amiata, Falterona and the Apuans, and hovering over the snow, the scenery is at its most magical adventure is around the corner. while snowshoeing. Skiing is a popular hobby, the winter sport par excellence. Skiing While nature’s resting, Tuscany becomes even more candid is freedom, speed and style. It’s competition and combines all and the outdoor spirit keeps us warm and ready for endless disciplines that require snow and two long, flat boards attached adventures in the snow. to dusk. outdoor sportsfrom dawn indulge inyour favourite a playground, atime to views. Thedays become creates surreal and sublime Apennines andApuans the peaksofTuscan the snow that falls on like noothertimeof year: brings amagicalatmosphere scenery. Butthewinter changing andsurprising four seasonsoffers ever- The natural flow ofthe EXCITEMENT HIGH-ALTITUDE ALPS ANDAPENNINES, SKI |ALPINESNOWBOARD |SNOWSHOES in theirpreferred wintersport:snow- skiing network forvisitorstoindulge Colò, Abetoneboastsawell-connected pistes developedbyskichampion Zeno lifts. Fromnovicetomore challenging 50 kilometresofslopesand 20-plusski derland sinceRomantimesand furnishes gliano area,it’sbeentheApenninebor- Abetone. NestledintheAbetone-Cuti- one ofTuscany’sbest-knownskiresorts, The mountainsofPistoiaarehometo offer countlessreasonsnottohibernate. getic uphillhikes.Tuscany’smountains down mountainslopesaswellener- adrenaline-fuelled skiingatfullspeed exciting andsurroundedbynaturespark doors. Snow and physical activity that’s synonymous with sport andthe out- In thewinter,holidaysandfreetimeare 50 Surrounded by immense views from the try andvaunting eightskilifts. metres ofdownhill,10km cross coun- snowboard slopeswindingalong 12kilo- are crisscrossedwithentertaining skiand outdoor activities. The volcanic slopes for delightful snowshoeing and countless lous hiking,inthewinterareamakes Chiana and Maremma. Famous for fabu- making thestartofVald’Orcia,di region, in the pre-, Amiata standsinthecentralsouthof the hallmarkofNorthernTuscany.Monte Exciting outingsinthesnowarenotonly first stepsonskisorsnowboards. the nurseryslopes,idealfortakingyour and difficulty.Beginnersfeelathomeon enthusiasts withslopesofvaryinglength cable cars,it’sperfectforallwintersports Doganaccia. Equippedwithskiliftsand tuated ashortdistancefromAbetone: Another importantTuscanskiareaissi- ternational competitions. tricks andjumps,inadditiontovarious- snowpark whereyoucantryoutafew re’s evenacross-countrytrackand and off-pisteskiingforfreeriders.The- shoeing, downhillskiing,snowboarding all styles and tastes. becomes an adventure for possession of its realm, sport takes blanket white the calming and magical; when that’s nature into forays scaling snow-capped peaks, Sliding or speeding downhill, Tuscany, anoutdoor themeparkatzero asting incredible viewsofthiscorner snowboarding and snowshoeing fun, bo- nursery slopesandasnowpark forskiing, mething foralltastes:pistes of alllevels, municipality ofZeri,Lunigiana offersso- and Liguriaintheregion’s westernmost On theborderbetweenTuscany,Emilia in theZumZeri-PassoDueSantiarea. Lunigiana isthelandofsnowadventures its islandsasfarCorsica,winterinthe the LaSpeziaGulf,CinqueTerreand sea andmountains,theviewsrangeover untouched nature:theLunigiana.Among we findanareafamous foritscastlesand Continuing westacrosstheApennines, away. ing withviewsthatwilltakeyourbreath can enjoy alpine skiing and snowshoe- dition totheusualsnowsport,hereyou forming theGarfagnanaskidistrict.Inad- in turnlinkstoathirdresort,, nearby resort,PassodelleRadici,which and cross-countryslopestoanother linked by several kilometres of downhill in theCastiglionediGarfagnanaarea.It’s small skiresortofCasonediProfecchia Apennines and the Apuans, there’s the 51 Below: alcunepistedellastazionesciisticadell’Abetone Photos byAndreaBidossi Top: snowboardinginValdiLuce,Abetone. Left: NordicwalkingonMountFalterona. PHOTO

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN Tuscany. is guaranteed in and outdoor fun the adrenaline rises dips, temperature the When SKI |ALPINESNOWBOARD |SNOWSHOES enjoyed onfootinthesnow. lo tains aroundMarradiintheUpperMugel- Forests Nature Reserve and the moun- Valdarno, shoeing andskins.Pratomagno routes suitable for exploring by snow- Apennines andApuanscombinewith ter. Anetworkofmountaintrailsinthe can stillenjoythecharm of aTuscan win- Even whereskifacilitiesarelackingyou degrees. are justsomeofthemountainstobe Falterona in the Casentinesi 52 in the snow isontheground. unforgettable outdooractivities when The mountainsofTuscanyofferendless ctly forexpertsonly. Excitement isensuredforwildwalksstri- you toswitchyourskinsforcrampons. ascents take on an alpine style, forcing cline becomessteepandstubbly,the and unparalleled beauty. Where the in- Alps enjoytheslopesaffordingseaviews snow andicetoyourtastes.IntheApuan If downhill skiing’s your bag, you’ll find Below: viewofthepeakDoganaccia.PhotosbyRoyCorsini Top: NordicwalkingonMountFalterona.PhotosbyEdoardoBenelli Left: NordicwalkingintheNationalParkofCasentinesiForests. PHOTO 53

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN AROUND ALL SKIING 54 04 01 San PellegrinoinAlpe Doganaccia ley. nes, Apuans and theGarfagnana Val- make wayforviewsoverthe Apenni- through magicalbeechwoods that tres. It’sagreatbaseforsnowshoeing Apennines atanaltitudeof1,525 me- in Alpeisthehighestsettlement inthe the borderwithEmilia,SanPellegrino skies.” AlovelyGarfagnanavillageon the beechwoods,intoblueof abysses andamidthemurmuringsof are the loveliest of all: protruding over by theApennines,SanPellegrino,you “Among themyriadflowersvaunted to makewayfordownhillskiing. ch forests.Thevegetationalsoclears trails surroundedbyconifersandbee- ce aswellcountlesssnowshoeing Cross-country trackstakeprideofpla- arders andloversoflongsnowdays. hearts racingamongskiers,snowbo- metres ofchallengingpistestoget for novices,plusmorethan15kilo- winter skicampsandnurseryslopes nected. Theareaisequippedwith Abetone, withwhichitiswellcon- the medievalvillageofCutiglianoand tuated inthePistoiamountains,near The skiresortofDoganacciaissi- Tuscan farming traditions. the lesser-known flavours discovering devouring deliciouslocalcuisine.Taste end along,snow-charged day thanby competitions. There’s nobetterway to and there’s far more tosportthan snowshoeing meanthe funneverends mountains. Skiing,snowboarding and intense intheTuscan snow-topped is asstrong asever. Days are diminish butthethirstfor adventure In thewinterhoursofsunlight Monte Tambura 05 02 Monte Amiata events. stars ofcountless festivalsandfolk te Amiatachestnuts:they’reeven the occasion isagoodonetoenjoy Mon- pasta dishes,orsimplyroasted. Every recipes oldandnew,fromdesserts to IGP hallmark,it’sthekeyingredient in the chestnut.Emblazonedwith serves upthesublimeautumnfruit: well assettingthescene,forest through age-oldchestnutgroves.As no thatboastsskislopesandtrails slopes ofthisancientextinctvolca- The prettiestofvillageslieonthe dible thehigheryoureach. Plus, theviewsbecomemoreincre- al forthoselearningtoskidownhill. to climb,makingMonteTamburaide- tain range.It’snotparticularlytricky sts, which is unusual for this moun- and lesssoamongclimbingenthusia- bura is popular among downhill skiers metres above sea level, Monte Tam- Apuan Alpsalmostbrushing1,900 One ofthehighestmountainsin 55 06 03 Pratomagno Lunigiana a dayofsnow-centric activities. Zeri-Passo DueSantiskiresort after in lodgesandrestaurantsthe Zum bread, traditionalfareoften served quiches and panigacci unleavened lities suchastestarolipancakes, herb giana, feastonlocalculinaryspecia- be satisfiedhere.ForatasteofLuni- ting urges are not the only ones to activities, eveninthewinter.Spor- fers endlesspossibilitiesforoutdoor Lunigiana isahistoricareathatof- Land ofcastles and lush nature, the point at1,548metresabovesealevel. ment markingthemountain’shighest Opened in1928,it’salargeironmonu- Pratomagno, thearea’sfamouscross. other, walking as far as the Croce del one side and theValdiChiana on the striking viewsovertheArnoValleyon fect forpeacefulsnowshoeing,with in thewinter.Pratomagnoisper- pastures thatenjoycopioussnowfall dge coveredwithverdantmountain Valdarno fromCasentino,itswideri- The massifrisesupanddividesthe

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN vaunt important horsecentres,hometo ricina andSan Rossoreneighbourhoods Horse ridingis atradition.Pisa’sBarba- tecture andgardens. Borbone, asumptuouscomplexofarchi - located inthenineteenth-century Villa cork oaks.Thepark’svisitors’ centreis ature atTenutadiTombolo,repletewith Mediterranean shrub is the dominant fe- va Palatina,areallfoundlocally. and arareforest,partoftheancientSel- rise upoutofthewater,spits,swamps a fewdecadesago.Tombolos,dunesthat the PresidentofItalianRepublicuntil park, 4,800hectares that belonged to Tenuta SanRossoreisthecentreof and encompassesarangeofhabitats. the coastlinebetweenPisaandLivorno The large protected area is situated along scapes areextraordinary. and pinewoods,the lifeforms and land- ranean shrub,swampswherebirdsnest hinterland from the sea to the Mediter- From thesanddunesthatseparate every seasonisripewithopportunity. li di Migliarino,SanRossore,Massaciucco- ments andactivities,theParcoRegionale Because ofitswidevarietyenviron- ROSSORE SAN PARCO DI must bevisitedtounderstood.And wetlands andtakeshelterin the reeds. myriad birdspeciesthatfrequent the ding swamplands.The Oasi Lipu protects to explore the lake and its vast surroun- At LagodiMassaciuccolitakeaboatride and Calambrone. bathing houses of Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia south oftheArno,publicbeachesand Marina diTorredelLagoandLecciona; north oftheSerchioMarinadiVecchiano, scany canbereachedonfootorbybike: Some ofthebest-lovedbeachesinTu- and evenenjoyaboatride. gardens of VillaGinori, near Piaggetta, sit theOasidiMassaciuccoli,exotic traits. Insixhoursoftrekking,youcanvi- scover itswildersideandmoreelusive through thepark,allowingvisitorstodi- foot, countlessroutesthreadtheirway Whether onhorseback,bybikeor tres inthepark. is onofferfortouristsatthemanycen- Prato degliEscoliracetrack.Horseriding ned totakepartincompetitionsatthe over 600horsesthatarerearedandtrai- 56 encounter simplywondrous. and thelife here that makes every discovering thewaterways by boat appropriate: walking thetrails, . Asilentapproach is the coastline Pisaand between that extends tothebeachesof of parkland,atreasure trove hectares brimming in23,000 A leapintothebiodiversity www.parcosanrossore.org you entertained. moments offered park the by keep will alone or with aguide, myriad the On foot, horseback, by bike or boat, teeming with life and stately buildings. of an ancient pinewood, swamps Mediterranean scrub, remains the environment: sand dunes, ofkaleidoscope different natural San Rossore, Massaciuccoli is a The ParcoRegionale di Migliarino, MAREMMA PARCO DELLA or snorkelling. Leave onlyyour footprints behind. here isthefocal point. Lower thevolumetodiscover it:onfoot, horseback ofthenaturaland oneofthewildestgivenintegrity habitats. Nature Tuscany’s ofenvironments firstandmostamazing parkduetoitsvariety www.parco-maremma.it ofwoods Uccellina the Mountains. from reserve, the sandy coves to the bility and trails the that reach over all can find information about accessi- visitors’Alberese centre. Here you gionale Maremma della at start the The routesthat explorethe ParcoRe- The toes ofCannellebeach. can explorethenooksandrockygrot towards Talamone, fans of snorkelling tower standsguard.Evenfurthersouth, pinewood, whereasixteenth-century that’s flankedbythe lelungo beach,alongstretchofsand south, youencounterthestrikingCol ver triedtheactivitybefore.Slightly far asthemouth,evenifyou’vene waters canbeenjoyedinacanoeas by theriverOmbrone,whoseplacid The northernmostborderismarked sion. catapults youintoatimelessdimen cowboys, ahorseridearoundthepark here forcenturies.Justlikethelocal on horsebackwhohaveledtheherds and guidedbythe“butteri”,shepherds come arings inthepinewoods,youmight ves alongtherockycoastorcle its appearance.Amongthehiddenco neither wreakeddamagenorchanged ronment inwhichhumanactionshave Tuscany’s firstparkprotectsanenvi co RegionaledellaMaremmaisamust. If you’reinsearchofthewild,Par- Monti dell’Uccellina across Maremma cows grazing 57 Marina Alberese areaconstant ------routes toexplore. nature andarealwayslookingfornew are idealforNordicwalkerswhoadore The longstretchesoftheMaremma ther’s inclement. hibernation sites,evenwhenthewea tchers. It’stheperfectvehicletoreach ace andwondertovisitorsbirdwa In thewinteracarriagerideofferspe night hikesledbyprofessionalguides. venture alongthepark’strails,evenon for cyclistsandwalkersbeforethey The Alberesevisitors’centreisahub woods andMediterraneanshrub. shores withthedeepgreeneryof coastal backbone, topping the sandy presence inthepark.Thehillsforma guided by the “butteri”. Maremma cows grazing and you might come across clearings in the pine groves, along the rocky coast or the Among the hidden coves - - -

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA COLLINE METALLIFERE PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCAN ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESI FORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS AIR SPORTS Paragliding | Hang gliding | Ballooning

On leaving the monuments and graceful scenery behind, Tu- and even the Apennine forests. scany has much to offer to thrill seekers. The region’s natu- No previous experience is needed; just the willpower to explo- ral beauty and historic cities can be equally discovered from a re, overcome your limits and have fun. Take a few steps and point of view dedicated to those who dare. you’ll be up in the air with a professional instructor; above you In Tuscany there’s no shortage of chances to enjoy a panora- there are only clouds and the views extend as far as the hori- mic flight or for travellers and sports lovers unique moments zon. of absolute excitement. Choose the place and adrenaline level and let yourself be guided by an expert. Whether you’re the one controlling the wing or relaxing with The destinations are diverse, from the mountains around Pisto- a drink while watching the sunset, taking flight in Tuscany will ia, with its harsh, wild environment, to Florence and Lucca, art make you fall in love with this land like no other activity could cities par excellence and the surrounding hills shaped by man- ever do. And when your feet are back on the ground, you won’t kind’s love of wine, the coastlines that plunge down to the sea, be able to think about anything else. ADVENTURE AN AIRBORNE beings can experience, a chance tocombine exploration and and hangglidingare thefreest form offlyingthat human your onlylimit;thewind isyour travel companion. Paragilding Hold thereins andchoose where you want togo.Thehorizon is PARAGLIDING |HANGGLIDING entertainment. 60 Paragliding and hangglidingarethe disappoint. flown before, the choicesonoffernever you’re aprofessionaloryou’ve never is thetimeyouhaveavailable. Whether restriction onparaglidingorhang gliding sites throughouttheregion, theonly Vaunting more thantwentyfree-flying Tuscany fromthesky. as thereareinfinitewaysofvisiting our imaginationtoblendtheseimages Elba Island.There’snoneedtouse of theGarfagnana,deepblue Florence, the varied scenery and history Apuan Alps, the green hills surrounding Apennines, the marble shades of the captor. Imaginethewildbeautyof moving intheair,windouronly Imagine thefeelingoffreedom Tuscany. us there’sonlyskyandbeneath is alreadyfarbeneathourfeet,above wait isover.Twostepsandtheground branches rustle.Thewingtightens. The windrisesupthehill,making Apennines... the wild beauty of the our only captor. Imagine of moving in the air, the wind Imagine the feeling of freedom escape fromthe ratraceorfree-flying you’re explorers, inpursuitofan Tuscany’s main elevations.Whether myriad fullyequippedtakeoffs allover Experienced fliers willappreciate the freedom. to controlthewindandfly inabsolute enjoy thecoursesorganized tolearn paragliding andhanggliding,youcan If youhavealreadybeenwonoverby taking sceneryfromabird’s-eyeview. professional, youcantastethebreath- by thewindandfirmlyattachedtoa first timewithaninstructor.Caressed the possibilitytomakejumpfor associations throughouttheregionoffer place tobegin.Themanyschoolsand of freeflying,Tuscanyisasuperb If you’venevertastedtheintoxication maiden flight. the expertiseofaprofessionalforyour the unknown,youwillbeentrustedwith sports. Have nofear: before jumpinginto mean thatthesearenotdangerous assessment andappropriateprudence The adrenalineisalwayshigh,butcorrect experience you’lleverhave. are castaside:it’sthemostexciting but askanyonewhofliesandthedoubts and abilities.Forsomeit’srecklessness, a glider,wearealonewithourintuition can experience.Hangingfromawindor freest formofflyingthathumanbeings 61 Montepisano.Travel and MountPisano.PhotosbyParapendioPisa Flying betweenLucchesia,MonsummanoAlto PHOTO in PisaandLucca. takeoff, andthenunwindamongtheart and mountainsthatmakeitperfectfor Monte Pisanowoodland,betweenhills the medievaltownssurroundedby of LeonardodaVinci.Takeflightfrom we canseeasfarVinci,thebirthplace instructor: oncleardays,beneathourfeet of going foraswim.Ascendthethermals heading forthecoast,landingand Island andflyoveritswildinteriorbefore multifaceted region. Take off from Elba are byfarthebestwaystodiscoverthis enthusiasts, paraglidingandhanggliding Monsummano Altowithacertified

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN ANOTHER TIME THE AIR OF HANGING IN BALLOONING Right: Photos byMicheleOrtolano Top: springintheSienaCrete area. Montalcino. PhotosbyMelissaToledo Left: hot-airballooningaroundMontisi, PHOTO to wonder. our eyes openandbe all that’s lefttodoiskeep Once you’re inthebasket, your headintheclouds. safest way totravel with The hotairballoonisthe of scientificprogress. hot airballoonwas asymbol of Enlightenment, whenthe leap backintimetotheAge eyes taking andpicture a we have todoiscloseour All the speedanddirection. It’s thewindthat decides hot-air ballooningabove theTowerofPisa.

your feetisa valuable opportunitytofill countryside that slowlypassesbeneath window. Seeing withyourowneyesthe drone videos,theviewsthrough aplane ctures you’veseenontheInternet, the experience: it’sunique.Forget thepi- There arenootherwordsto definethis Siena inthedistance. the extraordinaryPiazzadelCampoin across thesurroundinghills,glimpsing San Gimignanolengthentheirshadows waning onthehorizonandtowersof roofs ofFlorencearekissedbythesun Chianti vineyardsandgildthehills, take flight. When the sun’s rays touch the tion. Dawn and dusk are the best times to on whereyoucangoisyourimagina- a hotairballoonridedoes.Theonlylimit No experiencewilleverwinyouoverlike Only dreamerswillunderstandthisflight. mankind’s dreamofreachingtheclouds. when the hot air balloon represented explorers ofotherdimensions,toanage dawn offlying,amongadventurebook tres thewindtransportsusbackto already seemscloser.Inbarelyafewme- The basketleavesthegroundandsky 63 air balloon does. ride win you over like ahot No experience will ever understand this flight. Only dreamers will guide you. with professionalinstructorsreadyto the artofflyinglikepioneersair, the experience,youcanevencultivate If, afteraflight,you’vefalleninlovewith nature. off thegrounddependsonlawsof part ofthecharm:privilegegetting deciding whethertotakeoffornot.It’sall ther conditionsandaircurrentsbefore and thecrewcarefullyassesswea- rience; nothingislefttochance.Thepilot A hotairballoonrideisn’tanaiveexpe- particular tothehotairballoon. the mostandvisititfromperspective find the destination thatintrigues them Brunelleschi’s Dome,alltravellerscan tryside toanexclusivetoastlookingat From aone-hourflightoverthecoun- portunities totakeahotairballoonride. In everycornerofTuscanythereareop- in everydirection. the windandenjoyviewsthatopen do istrustthepilot,letyourselvesfloatin Don’t forgetyourcamera!Allyouhaveto your soulwithpeerlessbeauty.

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN AROUND ALL FLYING 64 in Tuscany from theair. of attractions worth seeing safety. There’s noshortage accompany you inabsolute schools andexperts whocan there are manyagencies, be right. Allover Tuscany wait for theconditions to Dress appropriately and stunning SienaandlovelyLucca. the city.Repeatexperience in all themarvelsofsunsetting over pagne. Whenthewindallows,enjoy exclusive flightwith aglassofCham- metries ofthecitycentreduringan at sunset.Enjoythemedievalgeo- a totally different flavour in the sky The cradleoftheRenaissancehas places tolandeither. nery. Plus,theregion’snotshorton ground behindandadmirethesce- perfect highgroundstoleavethe Valdinievole andChiantihillsallofter of MontePisanoandMontalbano,the mountains, thehillsandmountains no shortageofoptions:theApuan sure it’sunique!InTuscanythere’s ding orhangglidingexperience.Make A maidenflightisyourfirstparagli- Learning toFly Flying over Florence 04 01 gion’s wineriesandfarmestates. air balloonridetakingofffrom there- ditional flavours,participate inahot perspective. Ifyou’reinsearch oftra- course fromanabsolutelyunique the skies, take part in a photography forgettable memoryofTuscanyfrom ginal experience.Ifyou’dlikeanun- other activities for anevenmoreori- If aflightisn’tenough,combineitwith find outmore. head fortheLeonardoMuseumto vities. Once the hike or flight is over, per placeforcountlessoutdooracti- The Montalbanoareaisanothersu- tre atMonsummanoTerme. few kilometresfromtheglidingcen- ted betweenFlorenceandPistoia,a the placetotakeflight.Vinciissitua- would have chosen his hometown as have madehisdreamcometrue,he If thegreatLeonardodaVincicould Leonardo’s Sky A Taste ofTuscany 05 02 65 the placeformaidenflyers. countless expertswhochooseitas popular withflyingenthusiastsand reaching high altitudes. The areais area suitableforsafeflights,even exposure and seabreezesmake this geography of the low-lying hills, sun your first paragliding experience. The Monte Pisanoisamagicalplacefor Discover MontePisano sionals throughouttheregion. tions offeredbymanyflying profes- flight overChiantiisoneof theop- no Val D’Elsa as they draw closer. A mignano, CollediVald’Elsa, Barberi- to drive.TakeoffandsurveySanGi- a shortdistanceawaywithouthaving most beautifultownsofTuscanyare rience orinahotairballoon.The a paraglidingorhangglidingexpe- Discover Chianti from on high during The ChiantiTowns 06 03

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN METALLIFERE DELLE COLLINE PARCO 66 history amongthegreenery.history profound traces oflocalmining industrial archaeology and thatreserve encompasses Metallifere, amagicalnature Parco Nazionale delleColline Pre-Apennines. It’shome tothe extensive area intheTuscan as themetal-bearing hills,isan Colline Metallifere, alsoknown the lushestofnature. The and geothermalenergy. Outside, industrial archaeology, mines In thebowels oftheearth, Photos byMarcoPorciani geosite, . Top: thesteamof“fumarole” intheBiancane Photos byEnricoCaracciolo Monterotondo MarittimoandMonteverdi Marittimo. Left andright:geothermalphenomenain PHOTO sting volcanicphenomenaor walkingin wells andage-oldkilns,observingintere- ge train,inadditiontovisitingextraction bowels oftheearthonfootorbyvinta- the manyculvertsthatdescendinto can choose whether to explore one of ries. Thosewhodecidetoventurehere the Iron,SilverandGeothermalitinera- copper wereextracted.Plus,thereare vers allthesiteswherealum,ligniteand the ce miningplantscanstillbeseenalong specific theme. Vestiges of major surfa- to exploreindividualareas,eachwitha tors’ centres.Manyroutescanbeused guided toursareavailableinthesevisi- maps and even the possibility to book ts institutedin2005.Information,hiking with just as many equipped entry poin- re stretchesacrosssevenmunicipalities Parco NazionaledelleCollineMetallife- at outdoorsinahistoricalsetting.The pular withwalkersandloversofthegre- trails andtheGeoparco,aparklandpo- as well as a network of official hiking Mediterranean scrubandlovelyvillages War II.Thelocallandscapeisdottedwith the hills from the Etruscan age to World tracted inthisareabetweentheseaand four ofthemineralsthathavebeenex- Pyrite, alum,antimonyandlignitearejust Pyrite trail, while the Mines routeco- the mostprofoundroots. you intorelivingpiecesofhistorywith adventures andattractionsthatwilllure history. TheCollineMetallifereboast contact withnatureandexploringlocal ferent sortoftourism,basedondirect ty, thecastlessetsceneforadif- Alongside thearea’sgeothermalactivi- ts linkedwitharecentminingpast. stand incontrasttotheseenvironmen- The elevenmedievalcastlesinthepark the hillsaboveMassaMarittima. distant planet like Mars rather than to of theearththatseemtobelonga and processed, with its dark red shades place wherecopperwasoncemined verge onthegarish,likeatLeRoste,a unexpected scenery,wheretherocks 67 vintage train. vintage of the earth on foot or by descend into the bowels of the many culverts that whether to explore one venture here can choose Those who decide to www.parcocollinemetallifere.it comprehensive visitor information. gory. The website contains and useful Geoparks Global cate UNESCO new - Worlda UNESCO Heritage site inthe Grosseto. In as 2015,it was inscribed vorno, Pisa, Siena and inparticular of Tuscany, across four provinces:- Li extends into central the western part The ParcoColline delle Metallifere

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA COLLINE METALLIFERE PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCAN ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESI FORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS NATURAL EXPLORATION Horseback Riding | Birdwatching | Geothermal | Thermal Area Archeological Area | Botanical Area | Adventure Park

On foot or horseback, exploring Tuscany means discovering well as underground tunnels and age-old paintings. Old roads, established traditions, following traces of ancient civilizations which can still be travelled, allow visitors to tread exactly where and being surrounded by natural phenomena that you would past peoples once did. never have expected to encounter. A dash of science fiction and the unexpected can be found in Ride through the land of the Maremma cowboys, known as the the geyser area with jets of white steam and long silver tubes butteri, through long nights to the sound of hooves, among na- that carry and supply geothermal energy. Ten per cent of the ture that entices you to trot into the countryside and to climb world’s production originates here. The subterranean activity along trails that lead to fresh air in halfway between hills and adds a certain charm to the region, providing the benefits of mountains. sulphur-rich pools and wells to Tuscany’s well-known thermal Archaeological trekking takes us in search of the relics left baths. behind by the Etruscans and Romans, which centuries ago Grab your binoculars, wait for dawn or the golden hour at sun- when the civilizations were in their infancy claimed Tuscany as set to observe the inspiring seasonal flight of migratory birds. their lands. Amphitheatres and burial grounds are still visible as Peace is guaranteed. ON HORSEBACK THROUGH NATURE JOURNEYING HORSEBACK RIDING 70 Matteo Dunchi horizon thefortress of.Photosby Right: horsesinVald’Orcia, onthe by Concari-Cattabiani. Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.Photos Left: horse-ridinginPassodellaColla, PHOTO for centuries. to whichthislandhaspulsed hooves, that natural rhythm following theclip-clopof becomes harsherandwilder, wherereserves thelandscape olive groves, oracross nature arable fields,vineyards and where you canridebetween opens itselfupasaspace mid-mountains, Tuscany With hills,countryside and battles in the woods and meadows. Val d’Elsa, searching for traces of long-ago Gimignano watch over those who cross The towers of Monteriggioni and San Via Francigena. centuries havelefttheirtracksalongthe spirit ofexplorersandknightswhofor lived inthesaddle,onethatevokes res. Lifehasadifferentflavourwhenitis bases fromwhichtostartyouradventu- deep insilentcountryside,areperfect and thenumerousfarmstays,buried the olive groves offer ideal riding routes, and thelowmountains,vineyards panoramas is revealed. The countryside oves andthemanifoldbeautyoflimitless rider; thegroundglidesbyunderho- explored. Tuscany opens its arms to the of anaturethatisaliveandwaiting to be ce forfreespirits,thosewhofeelpart Venturing out on a horse is an experien- slows towalkingpace. lively trot,andstretchoutasthatrhythm ground, measuredbyafreegallopor they followthebeatofhooveson seback, space and time run differently: it doesn’tmatter.Whenyouareonhor- The approachtothehorizonisslow,but riding acrosstheluxuriantMediterrane- You thenheadtowardstheMaremma, volcanic activityoftheAmiatacomplex. covered with moss, testify to the ancient and theenormousmasseswhich,now circuitous route,tothechestnutwoods areas and,whetherbyadirectormore to theVald’OrciaandMonteAmiata Tuscany. Numerousroadscantakeyou gaze deepintothesouthernmostpartof those ofValdiChiana,whichdrawthe The mostdelightfulhills,however,are which canbeexploredyear-round. dule area, the largest swampland in Italy, ghbourhood prideandthefamousPa- Via Francigenaandalandofhorses,nei- ges aroundFucecchio,atownalongthe nese and Fiorentino. The scenery chan- the vine-coveredhillsofChiantiSe- Roads, half-hiddenfromview,snakeover go battlesinthewoodsandmeadows. Valdelsa, searchingfortracesoflong-a- mignano watchoverthosewhocrossthe The towersofMonteriggioniandSanGi- 71 tive forboththetravellerandhorse. of skyandsea.Thesaltyairisarestora- leave theMediterraneanscrubforaview this circular,pan-Tuscanjourney,asyou rino, SanRossore,Massaciuccolicloses ther north,theParcoNaturalediMiglia- signs ofitsminingandmetalworking.Fur- of theCollineMetallifere,whichshows Etruscan andtothevariegatedlandscape would cometoterritorythatwasonce If youweretofollowthePoleStar, touristy partoftheisland. na allowriderstoleavebehindthemore whose circular routes beginning in Bosa- reserve thatishometoMonteCalamita, opens theroadsandtrailsofnature Follow theseatokeepriding:ElbaIsland dreds ofyears. which horseshaveplayedaroleforhun- and passed down as part of an identity in Maremman cowboys,rootedinthisland an scrub that is home to the butteri, the

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN BIRDWATCHING WHERE TOGO ANDHORIZONS, OASES BIRDWATCHING 72 Below: Rossore Park Right: awalkaroundLakeMassaciuccoli,intheSan , Pisa.PhotosbyMontepisano.Travel Left: seagullssoaringinthewetareasofMarinadi PHOTO Oasis andRoccioni Forest. Swampland, Capra Matilda Burano Lake, theFucecchio feel at homeinthelikes of ecosystems enablebirds to wealth ofspecies.Countless offers an extraordinary For birdwatchers, Tuscany the PadulediFucecchionaturalreserve.

the entirelagoonservesupunparalle- avifauna. Duringmigratoryperiods, dland, is one instance of phenomenal zing viewsovertheArgentariohea- The in morethan120yearsoftwitching. bird specieshavebeenobservedhere coli datesbacktothe1800s;over300 canals. Birdwatching at Lake Massaciuc- ded byavastswampzigzaggedwith coli, acoastalfreshwaterlakesurroun- best-known sitesisLagodiMassaciuc- and thousandsoflifeforms.Onethe scape isdominatedbywater,greenery these ecosystemsarewheretheland- ces toencounterTuscany’savifaunaas Swamps andmarshesarethebestpla- leading tounexpectedflightpatterns. as entire flocks fly over the wetlands, variably thebesttimesforbirdwatching, Lagoon. Indeed,dawnandduskarein- miliar sightatsunsetontheOrbetello stilts, ospreysandflamingosareafa- Grey herons,cormorants,black-winged those whowaitfortherightmoment. fers richesthatrevealthemselvesto If you’repatientenough,Tuscanyof- Laguna diOrbetello,withitsama- 73 unexpected flight patterns. wetlands, leading to as entire flocks fly over the birdwatching, for times best the Dawn and dusk are invariably to observethe avifaunafromboats. perfect place to visit the local area and ghout the year. Casa Ximenes is the of birdspeciesthatgatherhere throu- serve duetotheextraordinary variety is regardedasTuscany’sgeneric re- the ia with a focus on outdoor activities, an arealikeCastiglionedellaPesca- A fewkilometres from Grosseto, in It’s anexperienceenjoyedallyearround. the marshlandsincetimeimmemorial. in traditionalboatsthathavecutthrough expert boatmen todiscover the rushes finished birdwatching,takeatourledby the rightplacetoperch.Whenyou’ve swamp, circlingfordaysastheylook cranes congregate in the sky above the ch, hundreds(sometimesthousands)of for sightings.AtthebeginningofMar- wetland in Italy,spring is the best time In thePadulediFucecchio,largest photography hutsandsightingtowers. sis boasting seven observation points, now the410hectaresareatrueoa- Maremma. Onceahuntingreserve, no, inthedeepsouthofTuscan tive species:thisistheLagodiBura- that ishometoalargevarietyofna- te theopenseafromaswampland Slightly furthersouth,dunessepara- birds fromallovertheMediterranean. led scenes,withthearrivalofaquatic Diaccia Botrona Nature Reserve

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN Park. PhotosbyMario Llorca Etruscan roadsinthe CittàdelTufoArchaeological Right: pedallingaroundthe VieCave,anetworkof Town ofCosa,whichdominatestheArgentario peak. Left: bird’seyeviewoverasettlementinthe Ancient PHOTO AND ROMANS THE ETRUSCANS ON THETRAILOF

ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA ARCHEOLOGICAL 74 understanding theTuscany oftoday. other pieces of architecture:thekeys to necropolises, theatres, ancient trails and region’s historicalidentity, inpainted themselves. Today theyare unitedinthe then theyfell outandfought between Romans initiallylivedhere sideby side, of itsmillennia-oldpast. Etruscans and with openeyes cannothelpbutseetraces Those whogointotheheartofTuscany reigns between thestonewalls,andby natural environment, bythesilencethat the magicalairevokedby protected the samefascinationasthese paths,nor Nowhere else on the planet can exercise ding the travellers from every danger. en Pitigliano,SovanaandSorano, shiel- the settlements and necropolises betwe- are asystemofroadsthatconnected two thousandyearsold.TheVieCave imagine, too,thatthispathismorethan tuff thatreach up totwenty metres high; a pathcarvedoutbetweentwowallsof mountain bikers. Imagine walking along que opportunity for footsloggers and The VieCavedegliEtruschiofferauni- nels designedtocarryrainwater. th ofPorsenna,anetworktun- and onecannotignoretheLabyrin- re ofelaboratelydecoratedtombs, Clevsin, theresurvivesarichstructu- In Chiusi,knowntotheEtruscansas Cerbone andGrotteburialgrounds. that’s needed is a walk to visit the San spent atthecoast.Afteraswim,all autiful GulfofBaratti,amustfordays city bytheseathatoverlooksbe- stands ,asingularEtruscan Along the coast, opposite Elba Island, a coupleofkilometresfromProcchio. seen aroundMonteCastelloonahike The remainsofthatancientagecanbe the preciousmetalinabundanceonElba. all overtheMediterranean,interestedin ports werepopulatedwithshipsfrom how, duringtheIronAge,island’s tal extraction.It’snothardtoenvisage on Elbagetslostamidtheoriginsofme- The imposingpresenceoftheEtruscans deur oftheculturethattheyrepresent. ments thatallowustovisualisethegran- of theseplaceswefindsombrefrag- la. Volterra,Populonia,Cortona:inmany ded theirpoweroverthewholepeninsu- by the Romans, who little by little exten- scans wereusedasarchitecturalmodels The twelvecitiesfoundedbytheEtru- thousands ofyearstothepresentday. producing architecturethathassurvived enigmatic, artisticandmusicalpeople, once theheartlandofEtruscans,an The areathatwetodaycallTuscanywas tees amysterious,fascinatingjourney. nies, andgoinghuntingforthemguaran- many oftheregion’snooksandcran- Etruscans andRomanspeepoutfromso lisation in central Italy. Reminders of the history ofthepeopleswhoforgedcivi- gins with its most ancient history, the A journeytotherootsofTuscanybe- of earththatconnectsittothemainland. tario promontoryandtheFeniglia,spit Cosa dominatesthemagnificentArgen- From itsstrategicpositiononalowhill, of Cosaanditsgiganticdefensivewalls. long. Anecessarystopisthe ancient city lisation in Tuscany will not have to look Those whowanttofollowRomancivi- to to the capital of the Roman Empire. can walk260kilometresfromGrosse- of theViaClodia,whichnowadaysyou Roman timestheVieCavebecamepart with remnantsofthemedievalperiod.In numerous Etruscannecropolises,along will findthearchaeologicalparkandits that liesbeyondtheinhabitedcentre,you with flowers.Amongthethickvegetation hours foritsochrehouses,decorated Sovana itselfdeservesavisitofsome the distant murmur of the river Lente. 75 Ombra dellaSera,itwillnotdisappoint. heard oftheUrnadegliSposior Etruscan collectionsinItaly;ifyouhave which assemblesoneoftherichest in time with the Guarnacci museum, nes ofthe historic centre we goback After awalkthroughthemedievalsto- co, withthatofthethirteenthcentury. the Etruscans,visibleinPortaall’Ar- ring ofwallsmixesthearchitecture tury bathsandtheforum.Theimposing only a few metres from the fourth-cen- the bestpreservedinItaly,anditstands story. ItsRomanamphitheatreisoneof the mostgloriousepochsofTuscanhi- Volterra allowsustomentallysynthesise

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN Biancane geositein Monterotondo Marittimo. Right: thesteamfrom“fumaroles” inthe Photos byAndreaVismara Side: atypical“fumarola”inSassoPisano. PHOTO CHARM GEOTHERMAL UNEXPECTED with anameat once magicalandhair-raising: ValledelDiavolo. Here The primordial fascination oftheearthlivesoninTuscany, inaplace you canmove andexplore inafantasy-like setting,seegeysersand boiling mud,stepbackintimeand,withalittleimagination, relive the evolutionofourplanet. GEOTHERMAL 76 and to see at first hand the little geysers, explore atrulybewitchingenvironment sform intochalk.Alongpathallowsusto with hydrogen sulphate emissions, tran- the calciumrocks,which,uponcontact Marittimo. Theparktakesitsnamefrom ne inthenearbydistrictofMonterotondo up close,thereistheParcodelleBianca- serve the area’s geothermic phenomena For those,however,whowouldliketoob- their greatwhiteplumes. cooling towersstandontheridgeswith and throughconiferwoods,whilegrey emerging fromtheearth,runninguphills the vapourtoturbines,enteringand films: longsilver-colouredpipescarrying pe mightputusinmindofscience-fiction powering amillionhouses.Thelandsca- world’s geothermalenergyisproduced, cular itshamletofLarderello,10%the the Pomarancemunicipalityandinparti- pour thatrisefromtheground.Here,in name tothecolumnsofwhitewaterva- in theValledelDiavolo,whichowesits the geothermic areasinallItaly.Weare we areatthecentreofonelargest We neednotfear,onlyunderstandthat rays reflectingoffstrangesilvertubes. rising frombehindthehillsandsun’s expected fromTuscany:puffsofvapour may getaviewthattheymightnothave lana wholookoutfromitsramparts Visitors to theoldfortressof Rocca Sil- Colline Metallifiere,andspecifically 77 splash ofsciencefiction. ginable terrain,thethermalbathsanda thanks tothesurprising,evenunima- visitors withasurgeofprimalenergy, The geothermicactivityinTuscanyfills allowing year-roundbathing. the waterarrivesatatemperatureof40°, cemetery, abeautifulroofedbasinwhere fills amedievalwashhouseclosetothe scinating spring,however,isthatone lated and difficult to reach. The most fa- further up lies the spring Le Lumiere, iso- hottest inthewholeregion,andalittle from whichthewateremergesat65°, to their naturalbenefits.Verycloseindeed date thosewhowanttobatheandenjoy bottled anddrunk,otherswillaccommo- attributes. Someofthewaterscanbe many springs,eachwithitsownspecific eological site,theareastillboastsagreat portant ofitskind,isnowonlyanarcha- , oneofthemosthistoricallyim- although thesacredthermalcomplexof were knowneventotheEtruscans,and The thermalpropertiesofthewaterhere activity atSassoPisano,notfaraway. On asmallerscale,wecanseethesame small poolsofmagmaticmud. fumaroles, famousspumesofgasand Bagnone therearetwonaturalwells

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN AROUND ALL EXPLORING 78 pable beautyofnaturalevolution. perfect demonstrationofthe inesca- died outthousandsofyears ago,the out themassivewhaleskeletons that which areshroudedinmystery. Check sing vastandvividcollections,someof sts ofcountlessthematicroomshou- oldest museums in the world. It consi- University ofPisa,inCalci,isonethe The Natural History Museum of the It’s afamilydayouttoremember. young adventurersclosertonature. nal workshops and activities, bringing up intheparkprovidesfun,educatio- explorers, theprehistoricvillageset family-friendly trails. Fortomorrow’s del BuffardelloAdventureParkoffers throw fromtheApuanAlps,Selva In theheartofGarfagnana,astone’s to have funintotal safety. the thirstofthosewhodare ath-taking andready toslake ofexperiencesvariety isbre- parks toage-oldgrottoes, the and children. From adventure especiallyfamilieseveryone, In Tuscany, exploring isfor 04 01 Skeletons onShow Prehistoric Adventures experience natureallround. SUP andyoga.It’stheperfect place to the local environment by practising along bythecurrent.Relaxand enjoy with theexcitementofbeing carried zip linesabovetheLimariverswitches nature: theadrenalineofhangingby canyon. Expect to get hands on with up aroundtheexcitingValdiLima An adventureparkhascropped ventor. di, thebirthplaceofpuppet’sin- park dedicatedtoPinocchioinCollo- adventures canbefoundinthetheme up excitementintotalsafety.Fairytale few oftheadventureparksthatserve Monte Amiatawoodland,arejusta Chiana, andSaltalbero,tuckedinthe ce, IndianaPark,inthefertileValdi Fiesole hillswithviewsoverFloren- the wholefamily.Vincigliata,in betan bridges that are perfect for routes, suspendedplatformsandTi- Other adventureparksofferraised Between SkyBetween andLand 05 02 Canyoning 79 06 03 measure. ave, wowing adults andkidsin equal between whichvarioustunnelswe- with anentranceandexitshaft catini Terme.It’sanaturalattraction its wayinGrottaMaona,nearMonte- 20-metre undergroundroutewinds and animalslikeasbears.Astriking testify tothepresenceofhumans streams aswellboneremainsthat caverns, subterranean lakes and visitors, thegrottoescontainshafts, dreds ofthousandsyears.Opento the Earth’smemorydatingbackhun- The karst caves of Equi comprise Underground Worlds Tarot andMosaics different. dings. Every corner hides something shaped and unusually coloured buil- company visitorsbesidecuriously predicting the future, look at and ac- the arcaneoftarotcards,while not an attractionandasurprise,where strange figures. TheTarot Gardenis gical place of mirrors,mosaics and Saint Phalle has established a ma- Near Capalbio,theartistNikide

NATURAL EXPLORATION AIR SPORTS SKI & SNOW WATER SPORTS CYCLING TREKKING & MOUNTAIN VAL DICORNIA PARCHI DELLA 80 paths andventure outonfoot, bike orhorse. who have thecourage toleave thewell-trodden and theremains ofancient civilisations, for those archaeological theenvironment parkspreserve always withinsightofthesea.Sixnatural and extraordinary Mediterranean scrubthat lies unearthed here, littleby little,amongstthe an attentive ear. Archaeological treasures are Val diCornia findthat nature demand andhistory Those whoexplore thepaths oftheParchi della di Corniaisthesouthernmosttipof where archaeologymeltsintonature.Val between theseaandhillsinavalley Mediterranean scrub,onasliceofland of Etruscansettlementshideunderthe tions ofnaturalparks.Indelibleremains one ofTuscany’sstrongestconcentra- of FollonicaandMassaMarittima,lies in anareasqueezedbetweentheGulf Between PiombinoandSanVincenzo, www.parchivaldicornia.it riders. lements, are suitable also for horse and importantscrub Etruscan sett- ths, cutting through Mediterranean visitedbe by foot or by bike. pa- The sites and places of cultural heritage, to sum of nature archaeological reserves, The Parchi della Cornia are di Val a Photos byEnricoCaruso Archaeominerary Park inCampigliaMarittima. Cerbone. AndtheFortress ofSanSilvestrointhe Top: thenichetombinnecropolisofSan Archaeological ParkofBarattiandPopulonia. Left: theEtruscannecropolisofGrotte,in PHOTO Etruscans lefttheirmark,intheburial vilisations inEurope.Thisiswherethe presence of onethe most ancient ci- of themostbeautifulbaysinItaly, ratti andPopulonia,lookingoutoverone selves inthearchaeologicalparkofBa- Only a few kilometres on, we find our- surveyed theunloadingofmineralgoods. and asixteenth-centurytowerthatonce cient commercialseaportatCarbonifera Ten kilometres of coastline lead to an an- closely integratedwiththelandscape. agricultural lifeintheupperMaremma, oded parkland.Naturalwondersspeakof botanical jewelsetin155hectaresofwo- of monumentalproportionsmakeupa tened. Oaks,turkeyoaksandashtrees space wherethewoodsgrowunthrea- nia wefindthecoastalSterpaiaPark,a At the southernmost point of Val di Cor- balk atneitherwalkersnorbikers. soil andlinedbyanetworkofpathsthat ver anaturalareasparedtheuseofits charm. Ithassixparksinwhichtodisco- by masstourism,itretainsits wild local Livorno provinceand,asyetunspoiled 81

you neverlosesightofthesea. leonic villageofBonesprit.Allthewhile, us tostandastonishedbeforetheNapo- and theMontionithermalbaths,lead ruins like the Castle of Montioni Vecchio Roman settlements,takeustomedieval paths meettheremainsofEtruscanand by roedeer,fallowdeerandwildboar.Its tural parkofMontioni,whichispopulated mon toallValdiCorniarightupthena- Charcoal productionissomethingcom- the millstomerchantships. in charcoalkilnstotransportingitfrom everything fromslowcookingthewood of Sassettaforgenerations,explaining the professionthatsustainedpeople a festival.TheViadelCarbonetraces charcoal industryiscommemoratedwith of PoggioNeri,whereeveryyearthe arriving at Sassetta, in the woodland park join therouteofcharcoalburners, Leaving thecoast,weclimbagainand from theground. fragments ofironthatreflectthesunlight at necropolis of San Cerbone, and in the mounds thatfacetheseafromgre-

PARCHI VAL DI CORNIA COLLINE METALLIFERE PARCO MAREMMA PARCO SAN ROSSORE TUSCAN ARCIPELAGO PARCO APUANE CASENTINESI FORESTS APENNINES ANCIENT ROADS COLOPHON

Tuscany Adventure Times è un progetto di: CONTATTI TOSCANA PROMOZIONE E’ possibile scaricare l’intero magazine in TURISTICA versione digitale al sito: tuscanyadventuretimes.it CONCEPT & CONTENUTI CICLICA Srl Per saperne di più sulle proposte www.ciclica.cc turistiche in Toscana: visittuscany.com

MANAGING EDITOR Per informazioni sul sistema turistico Giovanni Morozzo regionale: toscanapromozione.it EDITOR Giancarlo Brunelli

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Francesco Fanfani

PROGETTO GRAFICO Daria Popovskaia RINGRAZIAMENTI SPECIALI ILLUSTRAZIONI Matteo Berton Fernando Bardini, Valentina de Pamphilis, Lorenzo Castiglia, Roberto Vergottini, Paolo Roverani, Emiliano Pinzi, TRADUZIONI Francesco Gentile, Pierangelo Caponi, The Florentine Tommaso Bellini, Maria Angela Turchetti, Andrea Gelli, Matteo Venzi, Tommaso STAMPATO DA Castelli, Andrea Borchi, Mirko Bardelli, Litografia ip s.r.l.s. Alessandra De Paola, Loredana Ferrara.

IKayaking in the clear waters of the Elba sea. Photo • Roberto Ridi CICLICA DESIGN - Illustrazione di Matteo Berton