Tuscany Travel Guide

Gerfalco

The territory of Gerfalco has always been criss-crossed by a dense network of country lanes and pathways that in the past were vital communication routes between the urban centres and places of work and trade. The abandonment of agriculture and the closure of the mines have led to an inexorable loss of pathways. For lots of years many tracks have been covered by thick vegetation. It is only during recent years that several of them have been cleaned and an extended network of trails has been created for hikers.

Most of the treks follow easy to walk trails, some on gravel road, some through thick vegetation and some over fields and through woods without proper paths.

Iitinerary from Gerfalco to Castello di Fosini and Poggio Mutti

After visiting the picturesque medieval village of Gerfalco we walk up a small path to the ridge of the Cornate. In former centuries these mountain slopes were populated and cultivated. Over time rare plants and animals have taken over producing a wild landscape and a rare new ecological balance has been established. During most of the tour we have a nice view to the coast and the island of Elba. We pass by a former famous quarry of marble, which provided the marble for the Cathedral of Siena. In the afternoon we climb the Poggio Mutti, where we will find lots of entrances of former mines and natural caves hidden in thick evergreen bushes. Previously, the Etruscans mined minerals here and the numerous traces of the different mining epochs have become mixed.

Riserva Naturale Cornate e Fosini

Panorama ofi Travale, Montieri

The Castle of Fosini is officially located in the municipality of Radicondoli (Province of Sienna) but geographically it is in a part of the territory of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina (Province of Pisa), being situated at the source of the Pavone stream opposite the Cornata di Gerfalco. The castle has a square keep surrounding a central courtyard. The walls to the south and west, which are largely in ruins, are unrefined structures of stone and brick. The whole area is a part of the nature reserve of the Cornate (crags) and the Castle. The presence of perpendicular cliffs provides an ideal nesting environment for birds of prey including the peregrine falcon and the lanner falcon.

The Cornate (literally, horns) di Gerfalco, rising to 1060 metres and overlooking the Tuscan Archipelago, offer an incredible dolomite-type itinerary situated in the heart of southern Tuscany. Around the limestone mountain a natural reserve known as the ‘Cornate e Fosini’ reserve has been created, so as to preserve an environment that contains many endemic species and many ancient traces of the work of man, from the widest of pastures to the mines where silver and other precious metals were extracted, making the fortunes of the families of the village of Gerfalco, now one of the remotest places in Tuscany. The itinerary takes you on a discovery of the history, the geology and the fossils of this part of the Metalliferous Hills.

Castello di Fosini


Itinerary from Castello di Fosini to Gerfalco
Around the Poggio di Montieri Huge old trees and thick undergrowth are an indication of the native forests around Montieri and Gerfalco. The path leads uphill through a chestnut wood to the first view point, where we will enjoy a fantastic view towards Siena and the coast around Grosseto. We will watch the birds of prey fly around the slopes. Rough, unspoilt and mountainous landscapes and breathtaking views are the highlights of this trekking. On the way back we wander through former cultivated chestnut woods. Roasted chestnuts and chestnut flower were one of the main food supplies in former days.

Montieri \| Natura intatta e borghi di pietra
Natura intatta e borghi di pietra Point of departure and arrival: Montieri Difficulty: medium Road surface: Asphalt Distance: 23,000km Total climb: 420m Note: This route runs through nature and between the small towns and villages of the Maremma. The most challenging stretches are the short hill towards Travale and the last 5km before returning to Montieri. Good eating spots can be found at Gerfalco and Travale; you can fill up on water at Lame. The route starts in Montieri. From the town, head uphill for 200m on the road, which starts on the right of the Palazzo Comunale and leads into the road behind the town. From here, continue uphill for 600m until the junction with the SP 11 ‘Pavone’ road, where you should turn left towards Gerfalco: there are beautiful panoramic views on the right over the woods around Gerfalco and the hills above the Cornate Nature Reserve. After 3.5km leave the S.P. 11 and head towards Gerfalco on the S.P. 71.The road overlooks the coast on the left and Cecina Valley and the Siena area on the right. You can also see the only two mountains in the Metallifere Hills over 1,000 metres. After around 2km you will reach Gerfalco (6.3), 860m above sea level. The village has a beautiful historic centre – we recommend a visit. From here continue to the left, following two wooden signs for Cima Le Cornate and Fonte Il Canaluzzo. After 500m the road becomes a dirt track. Continue downhill and after around 1km the road curves to the left where you should stop to admire the view over Cecina Valley. The dirt track continues downhill past viewpoints and through forests, and you will cycle past some well restored traditional cottages. After you reach the valley floor (8.5) head uphill and after 200m you will get to a fork in the road where you should keep left. This will take you to Lame (9,4). Continue uphill and around 200m beyond the town you will come across a spring on the left. Shortly afterwards you will come to a fork in the road (10,2). If you continue to the left you will arrive at Fonte del Canaluzzo after 600m. The route, however, goes right, and heads downhill, ending up on the valley floor near a bridge over the Cecina river (15.8), at which point the road becomes asphalt once more. From here the 1km uphill stretch towards Travale begins. Shortly after, turn left at the T-junction (the right hand road will take you to the centre of Travale – the castle is well worth a visit) which will take you to the SP 5 heading right towards Montieri. At the junction there is a restaurant. Montieri is around 5.5km from here, up a steady hill. You will end up back in front of Palazzo del Comune (23). Biking tour in Tuscany Maremma \| Unspoiled Nature and Stone Villages Biking tour in Tuscany Maremma \| The Metalliferous Hills 73,7 km



Le Colline Metallifere

Vista da la Rocca di Campiglia Marittima a le Colline Metallifere	Roccatederighi	Panorama Roccastrada

Panorama di Gerfalco	Le Roste	Sassofortino panorama