CUORE DI MAREMMA (GR5)
Grosseto (Ponte Mussolini) - Magliano in Toscana - Bivio Marsiliana - Scansano - Bivio Montiano - o Grosseto (Ponte Mussolini)

14 - The Heart of Maremma (GR5) - 96 km

GROSSETO Km 0 - LA MOZZA - MAGLIANO IN TOSCANA Km 25 - BIVIO MARSILIANA Km 34 - SCANSANO Km 60 - MONTIANO Km 80,2 - GROSSETO (Ponte Mussolini ) Km96

Starting point and arrival: Grosseto
Distance in kilometres: 96 km
Difference in altitude: 750 m
Type of road: tarred road
Bicycle: roadster and all-terrain
Difficulty: average
NOTES: This itinerary corresponds to the GR5 (provincial routes). It requires a certain basical training and a resistance of at least 6 hours in the saddle. The distance in kilometres is calculated starting from the bridge over the river Ombrone (Mussolini Bridge) at 2.5 kilometres from the middle of the town. One does not have to cope with particularly difficult stretches but on the whole it is a decidedly wavy itinerary. It is advisable to cycle attentively and carefully on the roads surrounding the urban area of Grosseto: entering the town and on the way out as far
as the bridge over the Ombrone.

Ghiaccio Forte (Scansano) is an Etruscan archaeological site located near Scansano, in the Albegna river valley.

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One starts from Grosseto, leaving the town on the old Aurelia road now called provincial road S.P. 154, southward. Past the bridge over the river Ombrone, called Mussolini Bridge, one continues in the direction of Istia on the S.P. 30 of the “Sante Marie”. At this point one resets the cyclometer. Past 2 kilometres one turns right onto the S.P. 79 “Poggio la Mozza”. One is welcome by the Morellino of Scansano area with its first ups and downs and one cycles on until meeting the S.P. 9 “Aione” in the locality of Il Poderone (18). Here one turns left and cycles uphill for about 800 metres to then turn right onto the Council road of Poggio Bestiale. One climbs as far as a plateau offering a panoramic view of Maremma and Argentario. At the end of a fast descent among vineyards one reaches the S.P. 160 to Magliano in Toscana. One enters the town through the old Senese Gate and after a short halt one leaves the town through the South Gate. Reaching the sports ground one takes the S.P.94 “Sant’Andrea” (kilometre 29 and drinking fountain). Passing by the ruins of the San Bruzio Abbey it leads to Marsiliana and onto the S.R. 74 in the direction of Manciano without any difficulty. Shortly before the bridge over the river Albegna one turns left onto the S.P. 146 in the direction of Aquilaia and Pomonte. A light climb for about 6 kilometres until the road starts following the level profile of the typical Maremma countryside. After a short while (48) the road starts getting steeper and passes by the archaeological area of Ghiaccio Forte, a significant Etruscan settlement. The S.P. 146 ends when joining the S.P. 159 (51) when one turns left in the direction of Scansano. The road, offering a very panoramic view, climbs gradually and continuously uphill as far as a crossing where one turns left to Scansano, to be reached after 1 kilometre. From the middle of the town one continues uphill (direction Grosseto) clearing the hill after 1.5 kilometres near the aerials and the sports ground to continue in the direction of Grosseto. A short while afterwards (66) one leaves the smooth but busy S.P. 159 to turn left in the direction of Montiano and Talamone onto the S.P. 9 “Aione”. One cycles downhill enjoying the view of the coast and the Uccellina Hills (Maremma Regional Park) as far as the crossroads of the S.P. 79 (75.2). One remains on the S.P. 9 until it joins the S.P. 16 near Montiano (80.2). After a short stop in the town, that can be reached with a detour to the left of about 1 kilometre, one continues in the direction of Grosseto without any trouble. After a first stretch of gentle climbing, the road starts winding downhill through olive groves and vineyards towards the Ombrone plain and the Grosseto city belt. 9.3 kilometres past the Montiano crossroads and 1 kilometre before reaching the S.S. 1 “Variante Aurelia” one turns right onto the Council road of the Grancia. After the first 200 metres uphill as far as the first crossroads one keeps to the left continuing on the Grancia road (ignoring every detour) for 3 kilometres up to the underpass of the Variante Aurelia. Past the underpass one meets a large crossing (here the 96 kilometres ring ends) and one continues straight on to Grosseto Sud taking the S.P. 54 “Spadino”, leading into the urban area of Grosseto after having crossed the Ombrone.

At this point one should take great care: the traffic could be heavy and the road is narrow (especially on the bridge). After 2.5 kilometres one enters the town reaching the historic centre.[1]