Our touring area lies on the border between the southern Tuscan provinces of Grosseto and Siena and extends around the 1,738 metre-high Monte Amiata, the highest mountain in southern Tuscany. Situated halfway between Florence and Rome, the Amiata area is surrounded by the Val d'Orcia, the agricultural hinterland of Siena, the ore hills of the Colline Metallifere and the marshy coastal land of the Maremma. The Amiata is a lava dome that is part of a larger volcanic complex that has been inactive for 180,000 years. However, hot springs in the vicinity still point to its volcanic origins today. To the north of the Amiata area, towards Montepulciano, lies the typical Tuscan landscape: a woodless hilly area with rows of cypresses and vineyards.
Due to its volcanic origins, southern Tuscany, especially the Amiata region, challenges cyclists with constant ups and downs. It never gets boring in this hilly to very mountainous region; there are almost no flat stretches to be found. The tour up Monte Amiata is a must, as the mountain giant can be seen from almost everywhere. However, this tour is not the only way to cover a lot of metres in altitude. Many of the roads have been newly tarmaced in recent years, but you have to be prepared for a somewhat rougher surface and roadworks in some places. Unless you are cycling up the Amiata on a Sunday afternoon, the traffic is fairly manageable and overtaking is often sporty but nevertheless considerate.
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GPS data: Italy, southern Tuscany
