Here we go again, hiking in Tuscany from Florence, in a new episode.
Family experience 🙂
This time I will take you to a place where families with kids would love it
Let’s start 🙂
Hiking in Tuscany for families
Hiking in Tuscany from Florence this time with a long drive.
First thing for this trip you need a car, better a working car not like mine that broke down along the way. 🙂
You will have to drive roughly for 1:50 mins towards Castelnuovo val di Cecina, to our destination of Sasso Pisano.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasso_Pisano
There are many twisted roads to reach this place and you’ll see how deep into tuscany this place is. Literally in the hidden part of Tuscany.
Reaching this place and driving through beautiful landscapes is already magic.
It feels like driving through towns forgotten by the time. Your eyes will be captured by rolling hills, etruscan tombs, Castles, Brown bricked towns on top of hills, olive trees and vineyards.
When you reach Sasso pisano, carry on for about 2 mins and on your left you will see a Parking lot right in front of the smoking ground.
Kids already will be flipping around to see the magic ground smoking.
The actual Path
First thing, be aware cause there are no protections for the smoke nor for the bubbling water on the ground.
Hiking in Tuscany from Florence, this time will be fun:)
Kids will be tempted to put their hands on everything, so keep an eye on them and take a walk closer to the smoke and feel how hot they are. Absolutely fascinating.
https://www.komoot.com/tour/314385945
As you see from the picture or from the link I’ve attached, I did a loop but you can do the same way back and forward. Absolutely up to you.
Taking this path you arrive to Monte Rotondo Marittimo and le Biancane before the town
https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/le-biancane-nature-park-00001/
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parco_naturalistico_delle_Biancane
Even Monte Rotondo Marittimo deserve a look. So you could reach this town, have luncha and than headback our way or the same way you did back.
The path I took when I passed the Biancane, gets steep for 2/3 km through chetsnuts woods, that could be cool in the summer despite the uphill it refreshing and a break from hot smoke and the sun.
There’s another option that is less steep as you can see it on the map and it’s still a loop.
All paths are really nicely marked and easy to follow. Be aware some protection along the way like handrails are collapsed and it can get really muddy.
I have found a little tricky only in 2 points, for the rest is extremely easy.
From the picture you can see there are many potionals walks all around.
Hiking Sights
The hike is around 8 km. One way through the smoke is 3-4km to Monte Rotondo Marittimo and take 1 hr. Of course it will change a lot depending on how many times you stop.
You will see the geothermal phenomenon in many ways, smokes and boiling water.
The path is through the different outcrops of geothermal forces and It’s extraordinary hiking through this magical and a bit smelly landscape.
Kids will be so excited to see the land smoking and it will be easier for you to lead them through the path, no need to invent any excuses to keep them moving.:)
During the hike you have also a stunning view of the area and the town of Sasso Pisano and when you are approaching to Monte Rotondo Marittimo you will have a great view of the coast line of tuscany and Italy with the big Isola D’elba right in front of you.
Closer to the “biancane” you have an electric production site using the geothermal forces; It is less wild than the first part but interesting for the engineering aspects of the electrical production.
The way back it will depends which one you will choose but if you take the path I took you will be walking through woods mostly oak and chestnuts.
Near by Sasso Pisano there are also few hot springs for bathing and many archaeological sites
Contacts
Stefano 🙂
For other ideas:
