Walking in Tuscany | Parco Regionale della Maremma | From Alberese to San Rabano and Cala di Forno
     
   
 
Walking in Tuscany | From Alberese to San Rabano | Departure: from Pratini | 7,2 km, 3.30 hours
     

This excursion is not particularly difficult, only 6 km long over a descend of 400 m, it should take only half a day. The itinerary climbs up to the heart of the Uccellina mountains.
From Alberese, where you can leave your car, you reach Strada degli Olivi which, bending to the left in the direction of the sea, will take you to Pratini. From here, your walk will be in the shade even on the hottest of summer days, and you can start your ascent up the crests of the Uccellina hills. If you observe carefully you can spot tracks of the many animals living in the park, but a 'close encounter' with one of them will be difficult because these animals have nocturnal habits and are shy: pole-cats, weasels, porcupines, badgers, and wild boars. There are numerous protected species of vegetation, like the rare dwarf fan palm.

After only a few miles, once you have reached Poggio Leccio you will be able to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view over the plateau and mouth of the river Ombrone, spanning all the way to the sea.

Farther out the forest suddenly gives way to a glade and the whitish stones of the Abbey of San Rabano Benedictine Monastery (XI cent.) will appear in front of your eyes. Among the Romanesque ruins of the ancient church is a standpoint that you'll find very difficult not to appreciate because of the scenery all around it. Once you have had a rest, you are ready to return to Pratini.

 

  


Marina di Albarese


Abbazia di San Rabano
     
Walking in Tuscany | From Alberese to Cala di Forno | Departure: from Pratini | 12 km, 6 hours
     

Trail A4 is the longest, most varied, and least used of the trails, taking in hill, coast and cliff scenery, and reaching the large Cala di Forno headland that dominates the bay to the south. The return takes you along me dunes and a superb stretch of beach at Portovecchio.

From Alberese you reach Pratini and the walk takes you onto shady paths to high cliffs, culminating in the Punta di Collelungo. The trail passes through an area covered with typical Mediterranean coastal vegetation, with various bushes like the strawberry tree and aromatic plants, which fill the air with oregano and liquorice fragrances. A little bit of mystery surrounds the area of Punta di Collelungo, a haven over the centuries for Etruscan seamen, smugglers, and barbarous pirates. If you look up you can see the wide circles made by the falcons looking for prey; if you look even further, on a fine day, you can see the coasts of the Isola del Giglio.
From the cape you descend towards the bay of Cala di Forno and strolling along a wide beach, which entices you to dive in the waves of the Tyrrhenian sea, you head back to Patrini. The pines come right down on the beach, and in places into the sea itself, their smooth, bleached trunks creating the impression of a tropical island.

 
Torre di Cala di Forno
Torre di Cala di Forno
   
The Park is open all year round, all week.
To enter, purchase tickets at the entrance at the Visitor Center in Albertese or Talamone. It is possible to take a tour on your own or in a group, with a guide or not, depending on the time of the year.

The Visitor Centres of the Park (Centro Visite del Parco) are situated in Alberese and in Talamone.

Alberese Visitor Center
Via del Bersagliere, 7/9 - Alberese (Gr)
Tel. +39 0564 407098 - Fax. +39 0564 407278
Open every day including holidays with the following timetable: from October 1 to March 22, 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.; from March 23 to September 30, 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Visitor Center and Talamone Aquarium
Via Nizza, 12 - Talamone (Gr)
Tel. +39 0564 887173 - Fax. +39 0564 887173
Open every day including holidays with the following timetable: from September 1 to June 30, 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.; from July 1 to August 31, 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Park visits during the Summer (June 15 - September 15)

The itineraries A3 - LE GROTTE A4 - CALA DI FORNO and P1 - BIRDWATCHING have been closed due to potential fire risks.
All other itineraries can be toured with a guide after booking, except for itineraries A5/A6 FOREST/FAUNA and A7 OMBRONE RIVER MOUTH which you can plan on your own. Itinerary A2 requires a guide, but not prior booking.
Tours with a German, English and French guide are provided for itinerary A2 The Towers.

Visiting the Park in Springtime, Fall and Winter (September 16 - June 14)

During this part of the year visits are free starting from 9.00 a.m. till an hour before dusk. All itineraries are open.

 

Maps available in Podere Santa Pia:

Kompass 651 (2005), Maremma, Argentario, Grosseto, Isola del Gigilo 1 : 50 000.
Edizioni Multigraphic, Parco di Montioni - Alta Maremma 1 : 25 000.

Album

  
 
   

 
Other itineraries

A2 - The Towers | Departure: from Pratini | 6 km, 3 hours

It is a short itinerary accessible to everyone, but it has a steep and slippery descent when you reach the first tower. It is considered the most representative itinerary of the Park because it touches all the environments of the protected area and offers beautiful views.
Trail A2 starts nearer the beach and connects some of the medieval watchtowers built by the Spanish, who, with the Sienese, were me only people to bother with the area. it offers an extraordinary view over the umbrella pines (Pinus pinea) on the sand bar and dunes below. These are one of the most memorabIe natural sights in Tuscany, a vast canopy of emerald green that stretches almost as far as the eye can see.

A3 - The Caves | Departure: from Pratini | 9,6 km, 3 hours

The itinerary of the caves is different from the other ones, first of all because it is rather easy to go through, and secondly because its main point of interest is the area where the grand-ducal pinewood lies. As a matter of fact, the main points of interest of this itinerary are the pinewood, the Scoglietto - Collelungo canal, and the caves.

A5/A6 - Dedicated to fauna and forest | Departure: from the Church in Alberese, on the left of the façade | 6 km, 2 hours

The itinerary dedicated to forest and fauna is a didactic itinerary developing on an area of about forty hectares. It mainly develops on a level ground, at intermediate altitude on the hill facing Alberese. It does not present any difficulty and it has been partly equipped for disabled people.

A7 - Mouth of the river Ombrone | Departure: from the parking area in Marina di Alberese, go back for about 500 meters up to a little bridge. From here take a secondary asphalt road (close to the traffic) going northwards | 5 km, about 2 hours

The itinerary leading to the mouth of the river Ombrone is without a doubt one of the most interesting itineraries in the Park. An easy and entirely flat route, 50% of which developing along an asphalt road and suitable for everyone, also for disabled people.

A8 - Macchiozze (Observation Point) | 500 meters, about 1 hour

T1 - Punta del Corvo | about 3 kms, about 2 hours

The itinerary starts from the Visitor Center of the Caprarecce. A slightly uphill road surrounded by dry vegetation leads us to an area characterized by a higher vegetation until you reach the almost flat ridge itinerary. The route continues up to a panoramic area called Punta del Corvo, where there is a covered-roof terrace giving the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful view over the coast and some islands of the Archipelago Toscano.

T2 - Cannelle | about 7,5 kms, about 3 hours

The departure of this itinerary takes place from the Visitor Center of the Caprarecce. After a slightly uphill road surrounded by dry vegetation, you will enter an area characterized by a higher vegetation (an ilex grove artificially maintained in a shrub state with periodical cuttings) until you reach the ridge itinerary near the location Punta del Corvo.

T3 - Poggio Raso | about 10 km, about 5 hours

Also this itinerary leaves from the same departure point of T1 and T2, that is from Caprarecce, but T3 develops in its initial part along the stretch used in the other itineraries for the return. It is characterized by uphill stretches, in particular as far as the final one is concerned, until you reach the ridge.

P1 - Birdwatching Chiari della Trappola | about 2,5 km, about 2 hours

It is a very easy itinerary, mainly developing on level ground. It can be gone through only during the winter and with guided visits.

 

Two sites provide interesting information and itineraries.


Parco Naturale della Maremma | www.parks.it | Map | Itineraries | (Eng) (Deutsch) (It)

Parco Regionale della Maremma | www.parco-maremma.it | Itineraries | (Eng) (It)
 
   

View from Podere Santa Pia (Castiglioncello Bandini) on Valle d'Ombrone, Monte Argentario and the Nature Reserve of the Maremma