6 - A Balcony on Maremma - 57.2 km

ROCCASTRADA Km 0 -SASSOFORTINO Km 8 - ROCCATEDERIGHI Km 12 - TATTI Km 19 - RIBOLLA Km 29 - PIAN DEI BICHI Km 31 - ROCCASTRADA Km 57,2

Starting point and arrival: Roccastrada
Distance in kilometres: 57.2 km
Difference in altitude: 600 m
Type of road: tarred road
Bicycle: roadster or all-terrain
Difficulty: average
NOTES: Itinerary of great landscape interest having technical features of high value and roads with a low traffic flow. Refreshments to be
had in Roccastrada, Sassofortino, Roccatederighi, Tatti, Ribolla and Sticciano Scalo. From Ribolla it is possible to detour to Montemassi, in a
beautiful landscape position (4 kilometres level and 2 uphill)..

From Roccastrada, by the large roundabout, one takes the provincial road S.P. 157 in the direction of Sassofortino and Monticiano. One cycles easily uphill for a pair of kilometres on the slopes of panoramic hills. 3 kilometres after the start one leaves the S.P. 157 and takes the S.P. 8 “Meleta” on the left in the direction of Sassofortino and Roccatederighi.

One pedals uphill reaching Sassofortino (560 metres above sea level) and continues on a panoramic road mostly downhill as far as Roccatederighi (12). At the next large crossing (14.3) one continues in the direction of Tatti and Ribolla. After 5 kilometres on a fair road surrounded by lush vegetation one reaches the centre of Tatti (19.3). From here one cycles on a very fine descent with panoramic view towards the plain, following the road signs to Ribolla and Grosseto, on the S.P. 53 ending at a T-crossing (26.4). Here one turns left cycling across the plain towards Ribolla on the S.P. 31. After 1.5 kilometres one enters the urban area of Ribolla as far as a crossing (28.3) where one turns right in the direction of Castiglione della Pescaia taking the provincial road S.P. 20.

One covers a distance of 2.8 kilometres as far as a well-defined bend to the right. Here one turns left leaving the S.P. 31 and taking the S.P. 91 “Pian del Bichi” in the direction of Sticciano. One cycles across the plain for about 5 kilometres through cultivated land and vineyards with a fair view of Montemassi on the left. After a short climb among the vineyards and within sight of a large farm surrounded by centuries-old pines one turns right entering “Via Pian del Bichi”, leaving the S.P. 91 “Pian del Bichi” (36.2). The path bypasses the large farm and turns decidedly right through vineyards and a line of young pines.

One keeps to the main road (after about 1.5 kilometres at the crossroads one keeps to the left) for over 3 kilometres as far as the crossing with the S.P. 19, to be orthogonally crossed to take the provincial road S.P. 138 “Monte Lattaia” (39.6). One cycles to the end for about 2.5 kilometres as far as the T-crossing (42). Here one continues on the right following the path along the main track (avoiding all deviations) for a pair of kilometres as far as a small low concrete bridge, which can turn into a ford in the event of heavy rains.

Immediately after leaving it one clears a level crossing and reaches a well-defined T-crossing with the S.P. 157 (44.2) at which point one turns left towards Roccastrada (turning right one can reach Sticciano Scalo at the distance of about 1 kilometre). From this point one cycles on a level road fringed by a double row of stone-pines. After about 4 kilometres the road starts climbing uphill, not too steeply, through cork oaks and 3 kilometres further on the S.P. 157 turns left towards the rise of Roccastrada. One cycles for 5 kilometres uphill enjoying fair panoramic views towards the coast reaching Roccastrada as far as the roundabout in the middle of the town (57.2).