Costa degli Etruschi: from top to bottom
Length: 143 km
Height: 1.356 mt
Difficulty: 2/3
Typo: bike
Starting from Livorno, go south on the old Aurelia road past Calafuria and the Romito Tower (10 km) as far as Quercianella, and then along the coast to Castiglioncello (19,5 km). You then go through Rosignano Solvay, and once out of the town take the cycle path running alongside the Aurelia (SS1). After about 2.1 km, turn right at the traffic lights onto a small road which follows the coast with various access points to the local beaches. Go through Vada(27.5 km) and the Mazzanta area (camp sites). After the bridge over the Cecina River, you come to Cecina Mare (35 km). From here, you head back inland, and gothrough Cecina (about 2 km) to the roundabout near the hospital (39.5 km) and follow the signs for Montescudaio. Ride through the underpath of the Aurelia (SS1) and ride along on the flat road for about 3 km as far as the roundabout, and turn right onto the SP28 uphill to ùMontescudaio (242 masl), a distance of about 5 km, and Guardistallo, which requires a final spurt for about 2.5 km. At Casale Marittimo (54 km), continue on for Bibbona (58 km), where you go left towards Bolgheri along 5 km of marked up and down hills (63.6).Continue downhill along the cypress alley (about 1.8 km) to the left turn for Castagneto Carducci. After 9 km, turn left at the T-junction at San Guido towards Castagneto Carducci (77.3 km). From here ride towards Sassetta (86,7 km), and then on to Suvereto (96 km) along a spectacularly scenic road. Go downhill towards Monteverdi-Monterotondo for about 3 km; leave the SP398 which turns left here and continue straight towards Massa Marittima on the "Montioni" (SP19). At the fork after the bridge over the river Cornia turn right onto thec "San Lorenzo - Banditelle" road (SP22). Go through San Lorenzo, past the "Petra" vinery (Cantina Petra) and the Casalappi farm (Fattoria di Casalappi). A short descent and a sharp bend to the left at the 4.5 km mark on SP22; at the intersection aftyer the bend, go straight on for 2 km to a crossroads where you go left and follow the high voltage lines. At the next T-junction, turn right onto SP21 towards Cafaggio (112 km). Bear left here and carry straight on to Venturina. At the T-junction on the Old Aurelia Road (SP39) go right and then left after 700 m for Baratti on the "Caldarelle" (SP23ter. After 2.7 km you reach a roundabout where you keep straight on as far as the "Principessa" (SP23) (124 km). Turn left and then immediately right, taking the road for Baratti and Populonia. To reach Piombino (143 km), go back onto the "Principessa" (SP23, going through Fiorentina and Gagno).
The itinery can be completed in a single stage by well trained cyclistes, with the return journey by train on the Piombino-Campiglia-Livorno line. Cycling tourists can complete the route in 2 or 3 stages. Much of the second part of the itinery passes inland and offers possible detours towards Marina di Bibbona, Marina di Donoratico and San Vincenzo. Possible detours:
1) As there is very heavy traffic on the first stage from Livorno to Quercianella, it can be done by train. Alternatively, you can go inland through the Livorno hills via Gabbro, Castelnuovo Misericordia and Rosignano Marittimo and rejoin the itinerary at Vada.
2) The last part of the itinerary between Baratti and Populonia goes through an industrial area on the outskirts of Piombino. If you are using a hybrid bike or a mtb, we recommend taking the dirt road that runs from Reciso (Populonia)across the Piombino headland to Salivoli (7 km) in a series of up hill spurts and then down hill.
Bike
bike
Costa degli Etruschi: from top to bottom
ROUTE 16: Bolgheri DOC - Bibbona-Bolgheri-San Guido-Castagneto Carducci-Donoratico
Mountain Bike
mountain bike
IN THE HEART OF THE MAGONA
