The Fiora Valley and the Tuffaceous Town
SANTA FIORA - SELVA - SELVENA - ELMO - SORANO - PITIGLIANO - SOVANA - SAN MARTINO SUL FIORA - BIVIO CATABBIO - SEMPRONIANO - PETRICCI - TRIANA - LOCALITA' AIOLE - SANTA FIORA

26 - The Fiora Valley and the Tuffaceous Towns - 100 km

Santa Fiora - km 0 - Selva - km 8.5 - Selvena - km 16 - Elmo - km 28 - Sorano - km 33 -Pitigliano - km 44 - Sovana - km 52 - San Martino sul - km 63 - Fiora - Bivio Catabbio - km 67 - Semp roniano - km 74.5 - Petricci - km 80 - Triana - km 85 - Località Aiole - km 95.5 - Santa Fiora - km 100

Starting point and arrival: Santa Fiora
Distance in kilometres: 100 km
Difference in altitude: 1.420 m
Type of road: tarred road
Bicycle: roadster and all-terrain
Difficulty: demanding

NOTES: Itinerary of great landscape interest requiring the whole day because of the recommended stops at Sorano, Pitigliano and Sovana.
These urban areas deserve a thorough visit. From the point of view of cycling the route requires a good training because of the distance in
kilometres and the altitude profile which is very varied and marked by continual changes of gradient. The climbs are not particularly steep and
require an extended exertion, mostly in the second part.

 

From the square in Santa Fiora one cycles to the bridge to immediately turn right following the road signs to Selvena-Sorano on the provincial road S.P. 4. The road continues in steep descent for about 4 kilometres as far as a bridge. Here one starts climbing again remaining on the main road towards Selva (8.5) where a stretch with gentle ups and downs begins. Leaving Selva and cycling for 5.5 kilometres one reaches a crossing from where turning right one cycles downhill towards Selvena (16) and continues mainly downhill (with the exception of a stretch of 800 metres past Selvena) on the S.P. 34 as far as Elmo. Here one continues downhill towards the river Lente plain, following the road signs in the direction of Sorano.

The descent comes to an end 2.5 kilometres past Elmo and after a short climb one reaches a T-crossing where one turns left towards Sorano on the S.P. 22. A this point an extraordinary stretch begins, the road being literally dug into the tuff stone. The hairpin bends plunging towards Sorano are the gates to the enchanting towns made of tuff. Past the bridge over the Lente one cycles uphill again for 1 kilometre as far as Sorano (35). From the parking lot on the square one reaches a crossing where one follows the road signs (on the right) in the direction of Pitigliano. A short stretch uphill and then once more on the very smooth flowing S.P.4 gently sloping as far as the very fine town (44) that seems to surface from an imposing tuff bed. Reaching a crossing under a large bridge made of tuff one can turn right to enter the town that undoubtedly deserves a visit. The itinerary continues on the downhill road (direction Albinia) and after about 200 metres one enjoys an amazing view of the town on the right. One continues downhill following the downhill hairpin bends of the road for 700 metres as far as a further evident hairpin bend on the left where, turning right, one takes the S.P. 46 “Pian della Madonna” in the direction of Sovana. One cycles for 1 kilometre as far as the bridge over the river Lente and here a good to cycle on climb begins and carries on for 3 kilometres up to a T-crossing where one turns left downhill on the S.P. 22 towards Sovana (52). The town as well as its Etruscan necropolis undoubtedly deserve a visit. From Sovana one cycles on in the direction of San Martino sul Fiora past the bridge over the river Lente first and then that over the river Fiora (56.5). Shortly afterwards the ascent, about 4 kilometres long (medium slope gradient of 5-6%), to San Martino and the Amiata slopes begins. Past San Martino sul Fiora (63) one continues on apparently flat ground and then gently uphill for 4 kilometres towards Catabbio reaching a T-crossing: on the left one can detour to Saturnia 9 kilometres away and its renowned thermal baths, while the itinerary continues on the right on the S.P. 10 towards Semproniano (74.5) to be reached after 5.5 kilometres without difficulties. Here one turns right and shortly afterwards left following the road signs to Monte Amiata, Arcidosso and Roccalbegna. One cycles on a short even stretch and then on apparently flat ground leading to a 2 kilometres ascent (medium gradient 6%) to reach the Petricci hamlet (80). Clearing the hill of Petricci one cycles as far as Triana (85) without any difficulty, where one turns right on the S.P. 160 to Arcidosso. The road continues uphill with a few hairpin bends for 2.3 kilometres cycling back up the Upper Fiora Valley. Clearing the hill the road runs smoothly as far as a crossing at the locality Aiole (95.5) where one turns right downhill and takes the S.P. 6 in the direction of Santa Fiora (100). [1]