The best traffic-free bike rides around Casole D'Elsa

Micciano is a hamlet in the Italian municipality of Pomarance, located in the province of Pisa, in Tuscany. This small and charming medieval village stands perched on top of a steep hill at about 473 meters above sea level, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the beautiful Val di Cecina. It is believed that the name derives from Castrum Mitiani, linked to the landholdings granted in 59 BC to the Roman legionary Mitius thanks to the Lex Julia desired by Julius Caesar. The first written documents date back to the end of the first millennium. Due to its dominant position, the village was long contested between the monks of the Abbey of San Pietro in Palazzuolo and the Bishops of Volterra, before the population swore allegiance to the Municipality of Volterra in the 13th century.

The Leopoldina Column (also called the Lorraine column) is an imposing neoclassical signpost structure made of stone and cast iron. It was commissioned in 1840 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II of Lorraine. It served to indicate directions and distances along the ancient "royal roads" of the Grand Duchy. Today, only 18 historical examples of these columns survive throughout Tuscany. They represent an exceptional example of enlightened infrastructure and pre-Liberty design.

The medieval village of Prata (part of Massa Marittima) is located at an altitude of 620 meters. From its dominant position on the Colline Metallifere, it offers a 360-degree panorama ranging from the summit of Monte Amiata to the Gulf of Follonica, even offering views of the Island of Elba and, on the clearest days, Corsica.

Massa Marittima is visible from many parts of the plain, because it is built in a dominant position, precisely to see what was happening on the plain

Follonica, one of Tuscany's most beloved seaside destinations, offers everything you could wish for from a beach holiday: sandy beaches with facilities, clear waters, a long seafront promenade full of bars and shops, services for families, and a welcoming but never chaotic atmosphere.

The Follonica promenade stretches for over 6 km, offering a sandy and well-kept coastline, entirely walkable or cyclable between the cycle path and the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone). Characterized by shallow and transparent waters, it is ideal for families, with numerous equipped beaches, bathing establishments, bars and restaurants. Sandy coastline, often adjacent to pine forests, with excellent accessibility.

An ancient castle located north of the Monterufoli Forest, Micciano stands out from its high reddish gabbro cliff called the 'Pinzo', which faces the hill on which the village of Libbiano stands, separated from the deep Adio Valley. Its name appears to derive from the Latin 'Fundus Mitianus or Maecianus', the name of a Roman legionary who, benefiting from the 'Julian Law', was gifted a large plot of land in that area in exchange for valorous military deeds. The oldest document of the small village's history, dating back to 947, is preserved in the Episcopal Curia of Volterra and refers to the investiture of Giovanni di Giovanni as parish priest, while a papal bull from Pope Alexius III, dated 1076, confirms the donation of Micciano and its court to the Abbey of Monteverdi by Emperor Henry II of Saxony.

Built in the 13th century in Gothic style and dedicated to the saint from Chiusdino, today it is completely in ruins: only the walls remain standing, with the apse still in evidence, perfectly facing east, while on the upper part of the facade there are two pointed windows. The roof of the Abbey of San Galgano is no longer there today. The "official" version says that it deteriorated and then fell over the centuries, while an alternative version, according to some legend and according to others truth, states that it was originally made of lead, and was sold by Girolamo Vitelli in 1550. Whatever the truth behind the roof of the abbey, after some restoration attempts that went badly, at the end of the 18th century it was deconsecrated and left to the elements until the present day. The ruins of the Abbey of San Galgano, with its profile still intact and immersed in the Tuscan countryside, offer a truly incredible and particular view. In addition to the roof, the floor is also missing, which during the summer turns into a grassy blanket, while you can still see a transept with three naves and 4 chapels with cross vaults. Next to the Abbey of San Galgano there is the cloister, which was rebuilt at the beginning of the last century, using the original materials. Some accessory rooms are also very beautiful, which can also be visited with the entrance ticket to the abbey, including the chapter house, where the monks originally met to deliberate the main rules of the community, and the scriptorium, which was the place where the monks copied the manuscripts.