The best hikes from bus stations in Riserva Naturale Basso Merse

The Murlo Castle was the main center of the episcopal fiefdom, seat of the Bishops of Siena. The Castle is dominated at the highest point by the imposing bishop's palace, square in shape and with a sloped base, commonly called the "Palazzone". The entrance door is interesting, surmounted by a pointed stone arch, and inside, the vaulted rooms on the ground floor and the rooms with beams on the first floor are noteworthy. The palace was built by transforming and expanding the pre-existing building consisting of a 13th century tower; traces of it can be seen on the facade and especially inside on all floors. The walls surrounding the village/castle are from the same period and are still visible along almost the entire perimeter, along which there are two doors, one to the north and the other to the south/west. Characteristic are the houses leaning against the walls, most of which were also built after the war of Siena, in which secular traces have emerged during the renovations of recent decades. Until 1832, the seat of the Murlo Town Hall was in this Palazzina. Currently the Bishop's Palace houses the Archaeological Museum of Murlo, with the rich archaeological finds of Poggio Civitate; beautiful views that can be seen from the windows of the top floor.

The municipality of Murlo is very large and is made up of numerous hamlets and small clusters of houses. Nestled in the Val di Merse, it enjoys both the wooded landscape and the typical hilly panorama of Siena. The territory is crossed by the Crevole stream, a tributary of the Ombrone, and by the Merse river that gives its name to the valley. Ruins of churches and castles constitute a cultural heritage of great interest. You can visit quarries and mines and take nature trails that lead to places now forgotten but which retain all their charm intact. The municipality of Murlo is very large and is made up of numerous hamlets and small clusters of houses. Nestled in the Val di Merse, it enjoys both the wooded landscape and the typical hilly panorama of Siena. The territory is crossed by the Crevole stream, a tributary of the Ombrone, and by the Merse river that gives its name to the valley. Ruins of churches and castles constitute a cultural heritage of great interest. You can visit quarries and mines and take nature trails that lead to places now forgotten but which retain all their charm intact.

A beautiful and welcoming square

The former railway line has been opened up for tourism for hikers, cyclists and horse riders. Many information boards tell the story, benches invite you to linger. The structures (bridges, gorges, etc.) are interesting. However, the route is damaged in some places, so the passage by bike is not very easy (short, narrow, steep path). Impossible with the horse. Here is the official information: On the tracks of the railway from Miniere di Murlo This trail follows the first part of the railway track that served the mining village of Murlo. The railway began operations in 1877, transporting lignite and lime produced here to the coastal Grosseto region and northern Italian markets. It was believed that only a fast transportation system like the railway could compete with the great distances that separated Murlo from the main commercial centers. The Società Anonima della Miniera Carbonifera di Murlo was the company that built the standard gauge railway (143.5 cm) and initially operated the mining business (1872-1876); In this phase, the railway reached Volta al Salcio, near Monte Antico, where it joined the Siena-Monte Amiata-Grosseto national railway line. Mining activity was continued by the Compagnie Francaise des Charbonnages de Pienza (1876-1885) and the Società Generale per l'Industria delle Ligniti Italiane (1886-1894) and then ceased for about 25 years until the Società SAI-Ansaldo built the disused one in 1918 railway line and converted it into a narrow-gauge railway (95 cm), which was more economical and sufficient for the small locomotives used. Ansaldo ceased operations in 1922 when the last section of the mining railway (between La Befa and Monte Antico) was expropriated for the construction of the Siena-Buonconvento-Monte Antico line, which was completed in 1927. A new management of the Murlo mines only began in 1940, when the Società Miniere Carbonifere di Murlo converted the railway into a narrow-gauge "Decauville" type (60 cm) that was even cheaper, easier and quicker to lay. to La Befa; A warehouse was built here from which lignite was loaded onto trains on the new route to Grosseto. When the railway to Grosseto became unusable after the German damage in 1944, mining activity was stopped again. Finally, the management changed from 1951 to 1968 to Società Calce, Cementi, Carboni e Laterizi di Murlo, which was actually never active. Information about the route: Distance: 7 km Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes Total ascent: -188 m Difficulty: easy trail, all downhill to La Befa train station. Hiking shoes or boots and a good supply of water are required. The route can be covered on foot, by bike or on horseback. The last section between Molino della Befa and the train station is passable but has little traffic. For the way back on the same path, a total ascent of +188 m and about 2 hours can be expected.

The Eroica is all a panoramic point, from start to finish.

lignite mines starting point of the path along the route of the ancient railway it reached la befa

kiln for the production of lime that used local lignite

parish church remembered since 1200 today headquarters of the "new world community" for the recovery from social marginalization