The best road cycling routes in Grosseto

The climb to Tirli is one of the most iconic cycling routes in the Maremma region of Tuscany, located in the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia. This ascent can be tackled mainly from two opposite sides, offering spectacular views of the Gulf of Follonica and the Grosseto plain. The two main sides From Pian d'Alma (North-West side): It is considered the "real" and most challenging climb. It is about 5-6 km long up to the village, with maximum gradients reaching 13-15% on some internal stretches within the cork oak and chestnut woods. From Ampio / Castiglione della Pescaia (South side): More rideable, constant, and shaded. It is about 6.3 km long with an average gradient of 5.1% and maximum peaks not exceeding 8%.

The Alto Merse Nature Reserve and the entire Val di Merse area offer a spectacular "on the road" experience amidst unspoiled woods and clear rivers. For lovers of landscapes and nature, the most iconic and evocative road to drive winds along the SP73bis and SP441, which cross the villages of Monticiano and Chiusdino, until reaching the Alto Merse Nature Reserve.

Great climb on good tarmac. Can be driven in both directions.

Massa Marittima stands proudly enclosed within a well-preserved city wall. It is a town that has received the Orange Flag from the Touring Club and is rich in medieval artistic testimonies, even though its origins are probably Etruscan. The small streets that cross the hill lead to a magical place where the harmony of the lines amazes, surprises, and invites contemplation. The history of Massa Marittima is closely linked to the silver, copper, and pyrite mines of the Colline Metallifere, exploited since the early metal ages and then especially in the Etruscan and medieval periods.

And after the effort, a nice stop at the Barrino di Tatti. A snack at the gates of the medieval village, from the terrace and the room you can see the Maremma up to the sea.

It feels like stepping back in time; if you pass by, a coffee at Gianni's, the owner of a small but well-stocked grocery store in the center of town, is a must.

Nice café/bar in the town center

The Accesa area is also extremely significant from an archaeological perspective. Near the lake, in the Macchia del Monte area, numerous excavations were carried out as early as the 1930s, and resumed in the 1980s, bringing to light numerous remains of four Etruscan villages dating from the 9th to the 6th century BC. The buildings of the various settlements, of which only the foundations are visible, are gathered in scattered groups within a rather large area. Given their location, it is hypothesized that these villages were linked to mining, especially copper from the Fenice Capanne and Serrabottini mines. It is also thought that these mining villages were mining outposts that were subordinate to the large center of Vetulonia, to which they supplied raw materials. In addition to the complexes intended for housing and mining, many tombs of various types (pit, pit, circle, and chamber) were also discovered.