Monte Amiata | Walking and trekking in Southern Tuscany | The surroundings of Casa Santa Pia, a holiday house in the south of Tuscany

Monte Amiata Ski

Monte Amiata is 1738 metres high and extends into the provinces of Siena and Grosseto, comprising the towns of Abbadia San Salvatore, Piancastagnaio, Castiglion d’Orcia and Radicofani. The well organised tourist reception structures of Monte Amiata make this a popular destination all year round and a perfect base from which to explore the marvels of Tuscany and nearby Umbria and Lazio. From a naturalistic point of view, this region offers ever changing scenery and colours, from snow in the winter to fresh temperatures in the summer. The main economical resources of the Amiata region are chestnuts, wood, and increasingly, tourism. Ski resorts include the peak area, Prato delle Macinaie, Prato della Contessa, Rifugio Cantore and Pian della Marsiliana.
From December to March, Mount Amiata is one of the most organized winter ski resorts in Central southern Italy. From the mountain top, you can enjoy a superb and vast panorama. 15 ski facilities are available at Prato della Contessa, Prato delle Macinaie, Marsiliana and at Cantore. There are 15 Km of ski slopes suitable for beginners as well as for advanced skiers; all the slopes are fitted with the most modern facilities, besides which there are several cross-country slopes. Monte Amiata is Tuscany's only real mountain, in contrast to the famous rolling hills which attract thousands of visitors each year. 30 ski Instructors work at the Scuola Italiana Sci Monte Amiata which is located west of the 'Macinaie' meadow and where ski equipment can be hired. Trails Monte Amiata offers a number of trails, ranging in difficulty from green to black. Ski-passes cost £ 38.000/day (30.000 on weekdays), and weekend passes cost £ 65.000 . Should you need instruction, individual lessons cost £ 35.000 Lire/hour; while group lessons cost £ 20.000/person (2 hours, min. 5 people). There are also several cross-country trails. Campo Scuola Vetta (blue): 350 mt Crocicchio-Dedo (black), lung.: 1000 mt, dislivello di 250 mt Canalgrande (Rossa), lung.: 740 mt, dislivello di 150 mt Canalgrande Cantore (Rossa), lung.: 1100 mt, dislivello di 145 mt Canalgrande Marsiliana (Rossa), lung.: 760 mt, dislivello di 105 mt Campo Scuola Marsiliana (Blu), lung.: 380 mt Canalgrande Macinaie (Rossa), lung.: 390 mt, dislivello di 65 mt Campo Scuola Macinaie (blauw): 280 mt Direttissima (Nera), lung.: 1700 mt, dislivello di 350 mt Panoramica (Rossa), lung.: 2300 mt, dislivello di 350 mt Bellaria (Rossa), lung.: 800 mt, dislivello di 104 mt Campo Scuola Contessa (blauw): 200 mt Langlauftrails: 1. Anello Marsiliana (Facile), dislivello di 40 mt, lunghezza 2500 mt 2. Anello Macinaie (Media), dislivello di 80 mt, lunghezza 3000 mt 3. Primo Rifugio (Media), dislivello di 100 mt, lunghezza 5000 mt 4. Stadio Comunale Abbadia (Facile), dislivello di 0 mt, lunghezza 500 mt Ski Instructors Scuola Italiana Sci Monte Amiata (“Italian Ski School-Monte Amiata”) is located west of the Macinaie meadow, telephone 0564-959004.Scuola Italiana Sci Monte Amiata, located on the Vetta, or “Peak”, telephone 0577-789740. Ski Rentals from Gastone, located at Macinaie field, telephone 0564-959005 from Millo, located at Macinaie field, telephone 0564-959008 from lo Scoiattolo, located at Contessa field, telephone 0564-959003
Links Tuscany's Best-Kept Secret \| Casa vacanza in Toscana Podere Santa Pia Monte Amiata - Amiata neve - Il portale ufficiale dell'Amiata invernale Mappa
M O N T E A M I A T A S K I P A S S ISA IMPIANTI SPORTIVI APPENNINICI SpA Via Amman, 20 53021 ABBADIA S. SALVATORE Info: Tel. +39 0577.778237 Skipass daily festivo: euro 23,00. Skipass daily feriale: euro 18,00. More info www.appenninobianco.it/amiata

For many skiers from Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, Mount Amiata has been for decades the place in which to learn to ski. At the Primo Rifugio (First Hut), (the first location encountered while climbing towards the summit from the Abbadia San Salvatore side) one finds the first training slopes and the start of the chair lifts for the summit, from which the downhill ski tracks branch their way down. From here, winding for several kilometres through pleasant beech woods, are found numerous cross-country ski tracks.
Being equipped as a rest area and with ample parking, the Primo Rifugio is certainly one of the places most frequented by tourists during the summer season. The creation of courses suitable for hiking and mountain biking further heightens the interest in these tourism features. Hiking or biking through the beech woods of mount Amiata, one encounters rock formations which, associated with the beauty of these woods, enchant the visitor with their unique spectacular scenarios.