Nature Reserve Guide
Riserva Naturale Di Castelvecchio is a nature reserve located near San Gimignano in the province of Siena, Italy. Spanning approximately 700 hectares, the reserve features diverse landscapes characterized by limestone hills, dense Mediterranean forests, and deep valleys with streams. This varied terrain provides a setting for several outdoor sports like road cycling, touring cycling, hiking, mountain biking, and more.
The Riserva Naturale Di Castelvecchio offers more than 50 routes across several sports…
109
Routes
4.3
(697)
Average rating
4569
People visited

4.7
(18)
268
riders
40.3km
02:11
730m
730m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.6
(24)
248
riders
36.1km
01:59
730m
730m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.4
(16)
241
riders
46.5km
02:25
760m
760m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
57
riders
34.3km
01:49
550m
550m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.2
(18)
58
riders
29.3km
02:24
570m
570m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.7
(60)
218
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(5)
65
riders
46.6km
04:03
1,070m
1,070m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(9)
142
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(66)
226
hikers
9.94km
02:53
250m
250m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(33)
119
hikers
17.6km
04:41
190m
190m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(10)
192
hikers
4.52km
01:19
130m
130m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(28)
100
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(13)
136
riders
133km
10:17
2,410m
2,410m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(21)
89
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
38
riders
55.7km
04:25
1,150m
1,150m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
18
riders
34.0km
02:24
600m
600m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.6
(19)
57
riders
43.4km
04:27
1,200m
1,200m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.5
(4)
30
riders
63.3km
04:43
1,340m
1,340m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
33
riders
130km
11:29
2,520m
2,520m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(5)
10
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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3.7
(6)
30
runners
10.4km
01:17
260m
260m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.3
(3)
25
runners
7.37km
00:55
180m
180m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
15
runners
11.3km
01:20
260m
260m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
16
runners
7.54km
00:53
190m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Riserva Naturale Di Castelvecchio offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Road cycling, Touring cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, Gravel biking, and Jogging. The reserve features diverse landscapes with limestone hills, dense Mediterranean forests, and deep valleys. There are 98 routes available across these sports.
Popular road cycling routes include the Francigena Cycle Route: San Gimignano Loop, which is about 25 miles (40 km) long. Another option is the Casole d'Elsa – View of San Gimignano loop from San Gimignano, covering approximately 29 miles (46 km). These routes offer views of the Tuscan countryside.
Yes, challenging road cycling routes are available. The Cistern Square – View of Volterra loop from Castel San Gimignano is rated Difficult and spans about 33 miles (54 km). These routes often feature significant elevation changes across the limestone hills.
Hiking trails lead through Mediterranean forests and to historical ruins. A notable route is the View of Montauto – View of San Gimignano loop from San Donato, which is about 6 miles (10 km) long. Other trails include routes to the Cascate del Mulino di Piteccio and Diborrato Waterfall.
Riserva Naturale Di Castelvecchio offers mountain biking trails for various skill levels. The Castelvecchio Ruins – Piazza dei Priori, Volterra loop from San Donato is a Difficult route of about 27 miles (43 km). Moderate options like the View of San Gimignano – Pancole Village and Sanctuary loop from San Gimignano are also available.
The reserve is characterized by limestone hills, dense Mediterranean forests, and streams like Botro di Castelvecchio. A significant landmark is the abandoned medieval village of Castelvecchio, featuring ruins of ancient buildings, a 15th-century tower, and the Church of San Frediano. These historical sites offer panoramic views of the surrounding hills.
Riserva Naturale Di Castelvecchio is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 3,500 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes in the reserve have an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. This indicates a generally positive reception from the outdoor community.
Yes, komoot provides several guides for Riserva Naturale Di Castelvecchio. These include guides for Road Cycling Routes, Hiking, MTB Trails, and Gravel Biking. There are also guides for Attractions and Easy Hikes.
The longest road cycling route listed is the Cistern Square – View of Volterra loop from Castel San Gimignano. This route covers approximately 33 miles (54 km). It is rated as Difficult due to its terrain.
Yes, touring cycling routes are available, often featuring views of the Tuscan countryside. The View of San Gimignano – Colle Val d'Elsa Cycle Path loop from San Gimignano is a Difficult route of about 24 miles (39 km). Another option is the View of the Tuscan Countryside – Piazza dei Priori, Volterra loop from Castel San Gimignano, approximately 29 miles (46 km).
The reserve features diverse vegetation, including oak forests with Turkey oaks and downy oaks. Mediterranean scrub is also present, and in the valley floors, beech trees, sycamores, and yews can be found. This variety contributes to the rich biodiversity of the area.
Riserva Naturale Di Castelvecchio is a biodiversity hub, providing opportunities for observing various bird species. Rare species like the peregrine falcon thrive in its rocky walls during winter. Other birds such as the short-toed snake eagle, red-backed shrike, African stonechat, and common redstart can also be spotted.

