Traking/Bike

A nice loop is marked by signals "Sentiero del Viandante" to BADIA A RUOTI.

In BADIA A RUOTI, the abbey of San Pietro a Roti, founded around the year 1000 AD, was one of the main establishments of the Benedictine and Camaldolese order. It keeps traces of 15th century frescoes and a wonderful altar tablet which has been displayed at Uffizi Gallery.

• LENGTH: 9 km
• JOURNEY TIME: 3h
• DIFFICULTY: Easy
• ALTITUDE: min 260 m - max 484 m

Google Maps

Please, do the loop clockwise, starting from the first signal you find going towards the church of Rapale, but taking immediately the trail on the left and going down.

• Then you should always take right at each intersection till you find the gravel road.
• Go straight till you find a fountain where you may take water.
• Then take right, heading toward the bell tower you see in the distance
• Go straight till you see on the right a fountain, an explanation panel and a bench and on the left a paved road going up next to another parallel paved road: take the paved road going up on the left and you will find the abbey's church

To come back, take the same way from which you came.

• When you find the panel "Sentiero del Viandante", take left in the that will lead you to Sogna.
• You will reach a tennis court. Then you may take right to Rapale or have a tour of the village of Sogna, exploring the narrow alleys and picturesque glimpses.
• Come back to Rapale.

Go in the direction of Rapale's cemetery and then proceed as much as you wish.

Maps

Forests, castles, sorcerers, ancient villages, suggestive landscapes, and remains of ancient civilizations , this small valley in the middle of Tuscany has been able to amaze me more than once during my journey. I will try to tell you what I have seen , describing the places I have visited and how I got there, the colours, the smells and the sensations that this wild land has given me, because a journey is not a real journey if you do not do it also with the mind, and above all with the heart."

Itineraries and Maps

• Go down to 540 road and turn left.
• Head towards Siena at the intersection COLONNA DEL GRILLO.
• Go up hill following PISTA GO-KARTS.
• You may arrive up to SIENA.
• Come back following direction CASTELNUOVO BERARDENGA.
• Before arriving to CASTELNUOVO, turn right towards COLONNA DEL GRILLO

.

• Go down to 540 road and turn left.
• Arrived at COLONNA DEL GRILLO
• Take left towards MONTE SAN SAVINO.
• Pass the OMBRONE RIVER and turn right towards RAPOLANO TERME.
• Follow direction ASCIANO and then MONTE ULIVETO (very interesting abbey).
• From MONTE ULIVETO you may come back to ASCIANO by a different road.

• Go down to 540 road and turn left.
• Arrived at COLONNA DEL GRILLO
• Take right towards CASTELNUOVO BERARDENGA
• SAN GUSMÈ (pay a short visit to the medieval village) - CASTELLO DI BROLIO (do not go up to the castle) - SAN REGOLO - PIANELLA - PACINA - CASTELNUOVO BERARDENGA
• Go back to RAPALE.

• Go down to 540 road and turn left.
• Arrived at COLONNA DEL GRILLO
• Take left towards MONTE SAN SAVINO.
• At MONTE SAN SAVINO at the bottom of the hill, take left towards SAN PANCRAZIO.
• Then go down to 540 road towards AMBRA and finally RAPALE.

• CASTELNUOVO - SAN GUSME - CAMPI - MONTELUCO - NUSENNA - MERCATALE - BUCINE
• 3 km before BUCINE take right towards AMBRA and SIENA.

I f you want a short mountain bike trip, you may go to SOGNA (about 3 km).

This trip is achievable by everybody because you remain at the same altitude. If you proceed beyond SOGNA there is a very steep slope and it is very tough to come back.

A longer trip is the following:

• Exit from RAPALE by asphalt road and at 50 m from the village take the gravel road on your left.
• After 5 km of this easy road, you find an asphalt road which is not a busy road.
• Take left and advance as much as you wish.

Since when you will come back there is no indication for RAPALE, make sure you remember the way.

If you like a loop to come back to RAPALE:

• When you arrive at PALAZZUOLO, take left and go towards AMBRA.
• Arrive to Ambra and, by the 540 main road return to Rapale or, if you wish a shorter and quieter way, you may turn towards BADIA A RUOTI and then reach the 540 main road.

Another longer trip:

• Go beyond PALAZZUOLO
• Turn towards the GARGONZA castle and proceed down.
• At the bottom of the road take left uphill up to SAN PANCRAZIO and then down to the 540 main road.