Abbadia San Salvatore

Abbey of Sant'Antimo

Albarese

Acquapendente


anghiari

Archipelago Toscano


Arcidosso


Arezzo


Asciano


Badia di Coltibuono


Bagno Vignoni

Barberino Val d'Elsa

Beaches

Bolsena Lake


Bomarzo

Brunello di Montalcino

BuOnconvento

Campagnatico


Capalbio


Castel del Piano


Castelfiorentino

Castell'Azzara

Castellina in Chianti


Castelmuzio


Castelnuovo Bererdenga


Castiglioncello Bandini


Castiglione della Pescaia


Castiglione d'Orcia


Castiglion Fiorentino


Celleno


Certaldo


Chinaciano Terme


Chianti


Chiusi


Cinigiano


Città di Castello

CivitÀ di Bagnoregio


Colle Val d'Elsa


Cortona


Crete Senesi


Diaccia Botrona

Isola d'Elba

Firenze


Follonica


Gaiole in Chianti


Gavorrano

Gerfalco


Greve in Chianti


Grosseto


Lago Trasimeno


La Foce


Manciano


Maremma


Massa Marittima


Montagnola Senese


Montalcino


Monte Amiata


Monte Argentario

montecalvello

Montefalco


Montemassi


Montemerano


Monte Oliveto Maggiore


Montepulciano


Monteriggioni


Monticchiello


Monticiano


Orbetello


Orvieto


Paganico


Parco Naturale della Maremma


Perugia


Piancastagnaio


Pienza


Pisa


Pitigliano

Prato

Radda in Chianti


Roccalbegna


Roccastrada


San Bruzio


San Casciano dei Bagni


San Galgano


San Gimignano


San Giovanni d'Asso


San Quirico d'Orcia


Sansepolcro


Santa Fiora


Sant'Antimo


Sarteano


Saturnia


Scansano


Scarlino


Seggiano


Siena


Sinalunga


Sorano


Sovana


Sovicille

Talamone

Tarquinia


Tavernelle Val di Pesa


Torrita di Siena


Trequanda


Tuscania


Umbria


Val d'Elsa


Val di Merse


Val d'Orcia


Valle d'Ombrone


Vetulonia


Viterbo

Volterra




 
Walking in Tuscany
             
 
Seggiano, Castello Potentino
Castello di Potentino and Seggiano, view from Montegiovi
Walking trails in Tuscany Surroundings
       
   


Trekking sul Monte Amiata | From Seggiano to Potentino Castle


   
   

Seggiano

Monte Amiata is an unmistakeable presence in the Maremma landscape: the only true mountain in southern Tuscany and, at 1736m, the highest extinct volcanoe in Italy. Known for its medieval towns, its food and wine and its ski slopes, it is covered in a magnificent forest which alternates from chestnut to firs and beech. Facing north east on the soft landscape of the Val d'Orcia, Mount Amiatacloses the eastern side of the Maremma landscape and is near the Grosseto hills. Those interested in history can explore the historic centres of Arcidosso, Castel del Piano, Santa Fiora and Seggiano and numerous isolated monuments.

Seggiano is an old Etruscan centre, today distinguished principally by its irregularly open Renaissance church of the Madonna della Carità, set in an olive grove just outside the village. The town's inhabitants built it as a votive offering in 1603 as thanks for deliverance from famine.
Seggiano is surrounded by ancient olive groves dating back to the 10th century. The local olive variety is an original wild cultivar, exclusive to the Seggiano area and simply known as the olivastra seggianese.

 

Santuario della Madonna della Carità, Seggiano

Santuario della Madonna della Carità, Seggiano.[2]

 

The Sanctuary of Madonna della Carità represents one of the Amiata territory’s most evocative examples of late sixteenth century architecture. It is located just outside the town of Seggiano. The building was constructed at the end of the 1500s after a disastrous famine and it is considered a product of popular religious sentiment. At the same time, however, it is also connected to a widespread series of churches dedicated to the cult of the Virgin Mary.

 

Trekking sul Monte Amiata | From Seggiano to Potentino Castle

 

POINT OF DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL: Case del Poggio al Leccio
(Hotel / restaurant Il Cacciatore"), parking (circular path).
LENGTH: about 13 Km.
DURATION: 3 1/2 hours approximately.
TYPE OF ROAD AND LANDSCAPE:Dirt Roads and paved roads.
To consider that the second part of this path is very sunny.
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Medium.
DIFFERENCE TOTAL: 200 m approx.
SIGNS: occasionally red and white marks on trees, stones and poles.
POINT RESTAURANT: At the beginning and end of the trail at the bar / restaurant "Il Cacciatorer" (closed
Tuesday), Seggiano the bar "La Fonte" (after about 1 1/2 hour walk). The shadow of an oak halfway towards the Castle Potentino, it is ideal for a picnic.

 

   
   

This route starts at the hotel / restaurant “Il Cacciatore”. Immediately cross the road SP323 and take the paved road in front (Piagge Altore). Take the road to the right and continue until you reach a small cluster of houses (Piagge) on the right. The paved road becomes a dirt road and now leads out from the small village. Get off the main road down to the river and cross the bridge. Follow the dirt road upstream. At a crossroads, where there is a stone house on the right, follow signs to the right for Spazzavento. The road continues to climb. On a small hill, turn right and continue ignoring the branch on the left. (On our right we can see the village of Seggiano and the background to Castel del Piano). The path descends to a junction where you turn right. Now you walk through the olive groves. Ignore all deviations and stay on the main street. At a T-junction, in a curve, take the road down to the left. Get off keeping to the right of some small stone houses. Cross the bridge that is situated just after crossing the river and Vetra. From here the road is cemented. Continue uphill (left there are cypresses and right the ruins of a farm). This road leads almost immediately in front of a stone cottage. At a T-junction turn right. Shortly after we arrive at a villa in reconstruction: here, at the junction, follow the signs for Seggiano / Pescina. Now you walk on paved road, cross the stream Matrolla and reach the first houses of Seggiano. The Bar "Il Fonte", cross the SP323 and follow the signs indicative that lead in to the country. Walk along Via Trento and Trieste up to a crossing. Here go left to Via Santa Caterina. After the war memorial, in front of the municipal offices, you get to an intersection. (If you follow the main road for about 100 meters on the right, you arrive in the center. Our route instead, at this point continues to the left). Find your way with signs indicative of metal "Comunità Montana" and past the sign outside “Ambulatorio Veterinario (Veterinary Surgery)". The road is getting narrower and leads us out of the country. At this point, where the road turns white to roadbed, follow the signs to the right. The tour continues to the right passing in front of a cross-linked and can walk a little 'along a country lane in Seggiano. This path is flanked on the left by a wooden railing (sign-tree on the right). Eventually he meets again a paved road (to the left is a stone house). Now go left and follow the road leading down to the valley. Shortly after you pass the Mobilificio Amiata. (On the right side of the road there is the image of San Bernardino). We meet again the road SP323. Here you walk to the left, cross the bridge (river Vivo) and immediately follow the indication on the left for the Castle Potentino. This road leads us Agriturismo Poggio Velluto, where we must turn left. The asphalt road again becomes 'massicciata' or roadbed. Finally you reach the imposing Castle Potentino. The castle is owned by the British family Green and unfortunately is not open to the public. The estate is inhabited all year round by the family (descendant of Graham Green) which also produces a good wine. Leave the castle on our left and continue along the vineyard. At a crossroads turn right to the sandy road, which immediately became massicciata. Now you walk through olive trees. This farm track leads almost immediately to a gravel road on which you turn right. From here the view opens over Val d'Orcia. After about 200 meters on the right side of the road there are a couple of oak trees: a great place to stop for a picnic. Keep walking and spending Podere Colombaio. Now follow the road until a T-junction where there are signs indicative of the "Strada del Vino Montecucco". Here turn on the left. Now you walk through a landscape of vineyards. Aun junction follow the signs for "Villa Gaia" in the upper right corner. Then follow the road towards "Oratorio del Colombaio". Let Villa Gaia on the left and follow the main road that becomes ballast. Keep going straight on this road until you reach the small cluster of Poggio Ferro, who is also the highest point of this route (568 m). Poggio Ferro cross and stay on this same road down constantly and leads up to a T-junction in a curve. Here keep right and orientate the signs for Poggio. The SP323 is reached soon there turn left up to the point of departure Poggio al Leccio “Il Cacciatore”.

 


Potentino Castle


Potentino Castle, a splendid ancient castle, built on an Etruscan site, lies in a secret valley nestled in one of the last undiscovered corners of Tuscany - the Monte Amiata. Run by the Greene family as an old-fashioned Residenza d'Epoca, The Castello di Potentino.

The first document to mention the Castello di Potentino is dated 1042. It then belonged to a certain Count Pietrone or Pepone. However, the original foundations are probably Etruscan. Over the centuries the property passed through the hands of many well-known Tuscan families of noble descent - the Tolomei, the Bonsignori, and the the Salimbeni, whom in the company of Contessa Bianchina, received Saint Catherine of Siena as a guest at the castle. At the end of the 16th Century it became a centre for the charitable works of the hospital order of Santa Maria della Scala.

After this period of religious activity, the Medici Duke Ferdinando I conceded the estate to Marchese Giovan Battista Bourbon del Monte, famous commander-in-chief of the infantry of the Venetian Republic. His descendants finally sold the castle to a gentleman from Switzerland, Antonio Hemmeler, in 1906. Recently it was purchased and restored by the Greene family, who have given new life to the ancient traditions of the building.
Charlotte Horton and her brother, Alexander Greene, whose English roots are literary and artistic, preserve artisan winemaking techniques and a whole way of life in the castle.
The Greenes have owned properties in the Tuscan Maremma for over 30 years. Starting with a farmhouse near the coast, they gradually moved inland. Castello di Potentino is their second major project in the Grosseto area. The first was Castello Montempò, set in the heart of the valley near Scansano, were you can see in the background setting, a series of modern windmills as part of a power station. The building of giant wind turbines in one of Italy’s most fashionable wine regions was approved to the outrage of local wine producers.
After 10 years, when restoration was completed, vineyards planted and a winery establishedCastello Montempò was sold to the Biondi Santi family.

The second castle, Potentino, was discovered in an old guide book. Abandoned, dilapidated, overgrown, the potential was still apparent. It was for sale but had to be bought from 22 different people. Negotiations took a year and agreement finally reached with all the owners. [1]

 

Montegiovi
Montegiovi

 

Seggiano
Segglano

 

Castello di Potentino
Castello di Potentino

 

 
Seggiano z05.jpg

Seggiano, seen from the street to the station of Mount Amiata [3]

 

 
   
     



Hidden secrets in Tuscany Tuscan farmhouses | Podere Santa Pia




   
   

Podere Santa Pia
 
Podere Santa Pia
 
Century-old olive trees, between Podere Santa Pia and Cinigiano
         

Montepulciano, San Biagio

Castel del Piano
Montepulciano
Villa La Foce

Castel del Piano, itinerarie

         


San Gimignano
Tuscania
Sunsets in Tuscany

         


   

Podere Santa Pia is embedded in the tranquility of the Tuscan country and let you enjoy great views of the Maremma



Trekking and hiking on Mount Amiata | Trails to discover the beauty of Mount Amiata (Eng)

 

Bagno Vignoni, an immersion in the Val d'Orcia [LENGHT: 10 Km. DURATION: 3 hours circa]

From Vivo d’Orca to the hermitage and these spring of Vivo [LENGHT: 10 Km. DURATION: 3 hours circa]

From Seggiano to Potentino Castle [LENGHT: circa 13 Km. DURATION: 3, 5 hours]



 

Trekking sul Monte Amiata | Sentieri per scoprire le meraviglie del Monte Amiata (It)

 

      Dal Vivo d'Orcia all'Eremo e all'Ermicciolo fino alle sorgenti del Vivo [LUNGHEZZA: 10 Km circa. DURATA: 3 ore circa]

     
Nei castagneti di Arcidosso [LUNGHEZZA: 6.2 Km. DURATA: 3 ore circa]

      Da Tepolini attraverso i castagneti de.."la strada della castagna" [ LUNGHEZZA: 4.2 Km circa. DURATA: 1 ora e 1/4 ]

      Da Abbadia San Salvatore a Piancastagnaio [LUNGHEZZA: 13 Km circa. DURATA: 3 ore 1/2 circa ]

      Attraverso la riserva naturale de "il Pigelleto" [LUNGHEZZA: circa 10 Km. DURATA: 3 ore 1/2 circa ]

      Dal parco faunistico del Monte Amiata alla cima del Monte Labbro [LUNGHEZZA: circa 6,5 Km. DURATA: 3 ore circa]

      Da Bagno Vignoni, un'immersione nella Val d'Orcia [LUNGHEZZA: circa 12 Km. DURATA: 4 ore circa ]

      Da Semproniano al piccolo borgo di Rocchette di Fazio [LUNGHEZZA: circa 10 Km. DURATA: 3 ore e 1/2 circa ]

      Da Seggiano al castello di Potentino [LUNGHEZZA: circa 13 Km. DURATA: 3 ore e 1/2 circa ]

      Dal Prato delle macinaie alla vetta del Monte Amiata [LUNGHEZZA: circa 7 Km. DURATA: circa 2 ore e 1/2 ]

 


[1] Fonte:www.potentino.com
[2] Fonte fotografica di Zyance - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4048953
[3] Fonte fotografica di Zyance - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4048825