Hikes of the Tuscan Hill Country

Introduction to the Tuscan Hill Country

14            Lago di Santa Luce Loop North

Loop hike from Lago di Santa Luce to Pieve di Santa Luce

Distance:  10.4 km (6.45 miles)        

Elevation: 40 – 100 meters (130 - 328 ft)

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Time to Visit: Year Round, except mid-day in summer

Village of Santa Luce tucked into the Pisan hills                                                     Barren farmland following the wheat harvest

15                    Lago di Santa Luce Loop South

Loop around the Lago di Santa Luce

Distance:  6.3 km (3.9 miles) or 8.7 km (5.4 miles) with nature walk at the lake

Elevation: 40 – 100 meters (130 - 328 ft)

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Time to Visit: Year Round, except mid-day in summer

Lago di Santa Luce wetlands                                                                    Lago di Santa Luce from the slopes above

17                                Wild Forests and Canyon of Tatti-Berignone

A loop hike in the wild forests and down a rugged canyon of Tatti-Berignone near Volterra

Distance: Approximately 15 km (9.3 miles)

            17.5 km (10.9 mi) with spur to picnic area and botanical trail

Elevation: 134 – 518 meters (440 - 1700 ft)

Hiking Time: 6-7 hours

Park: Riserva Naturale Provinciale Foreste di Berignone

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous – for Adventure Seekers only

Time to Visit: Any time, but avoid heat of summer and rainy season when creek is swollen.

Wild landscape of the Berignone-Tatti area                                                        Abandoned castle above the Rio Buti canyon

18                                            Ruins of Castelvecchio

A short hike to the ruins of the 13^th century village of Castelvecchio near San Gimignano

Round Trip: 5 km (3.1 miles)           

Elevation: 337 – 383 m (1106 – 1256 ft)

Hiking Time: 1.5 hours

Park: Riserva Naturale Castelvecchio

Difficulty: Easy

Time to Visit: Year Round

Tower of the Keep                                            Old church of San Friedano                                    Apse of San Friedano

19                               Monti della Calvana

A hike to the barren summit of Monti della Calvana high above Florence

Distance: 13.7 km (8.5 miles)

            17.4 km (10.8 miles) with optional trip along ridge crest to viewpoint at La Retaia

Elevation: 125 – 818 m (410 – 2683 feet)

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Park: Area Naturale Protetta di Interesse Locale (ANPIL) – Monte delle Calvana

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: March – November (avoid mid-day in late summer)

Summit of the Monte della Calvana

20                   Leonardo da Vinci’s Boyhood Home and Montalbano

A hike from the boyhood home of Leonardo da Vinci to the summit of Montealbano

Distance: approximately 11.4 km (7.1 miles)          

Elevation: 215 – 629 meters (705 - 2063 ft)

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: All year – Not recommended mid-day in summer and there may be snow in winter at the summit.

View of the Apennines from Leonardo's boyhood home                                       Vineyards on the side of Montalbano

21                    Monte Pisano Loop

A loop along the ridgeline of Monte Pisano to the summit of Monte Faeta

Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 mi)

Elevation: 620 – 830 meters (2033 - 2722 ft)

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Park: Area Naturale Protetta di Interesse Locale (ANPIL) “Del Lato”

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Time to Visit: March to November

View of the Pisa Plain from Monte Pisano                                                                View of the Monte Pisano summit