Parco interprovinciale di Montioni
Located between the province of Grosseto and Livorno, the park (6336 hectars) reaches its maximum height of 300 mts. Walking around, Etruscan, Roman and Medieval ruins can still be seen. The vegetation features the typical Mediterranean scrub and Live Oaks and fauna is mainly represented by wild boars, roe bucks and deers.

Montebamboli e le Mining Area
Well signed paths along the River Milia and the "Iron road" leads to the Ancient Mining Village built around 1845. The rich vegetation is made up mainly of holm oaks,turkey oaks, cork trees, myrtle, white hornbeam, mastic trees, arbutus berry, junipers. Among the wild animals are the wild boars, badgers and roe bucks.

Regional Park of Maremma
It was founded in 1975 and it is the only Regional park of Maremma. It lies between the River Ombrone (north) and the Monti dell'Uccellina (south). It has different type of vegetation : not so rich in species in the dunes (AMMOFILE, sea-lily, SOLDANELLA), with mastic trees and wild olives trees that disappear where the huge Granducale Pinewood starts. Tthe typical Mediterranean scrub contains bush heather, juniper,filirea near the coast and manna ash, turkey oak,bay oak and maple tree inland. The Regional Park of Maremma is the home of wild boar, roe buck, deer, budger, porcupines and other small mammals. Amongst the birds are the fisher falcon, the sea gull, the heron, the king-fisher and many others.

Suvereto e il Monte Calvi
Suvereto (its name derivating from "Sughera" = Cork tree) is a pretty small villlage. The first information about it comes from 973 A.C..In the 13 century the people of Suvereto arrived at the proclamation of the Free Commune and in 1273 they joined the Ghibellines. The Monte Calvi (646 mts on sea level)l can be reached from Suvereto, walking uphill along unspoilt paths : the vegetation is very rich, containing turkey oak, cork tree, holm oak, and a great number of wild flowers like orchids, anemoni and others. The view from the top of the Monte Calvi is heartbreaking over the Follonica Gulf, Baratti Gulf, Elba and Corsica as well.

Farma Nature Reserve
It lies in 1561 hectars of valleys and forest which boats some rare botanic species as Yew Trees, Birch Tree, Box Tree, Holly Tree, together with "Osmunda Regalis" (a giant fern). Amongst the wild animals living in the area, there are martens, polecats, otters and wild cats, while in the Troscia Pond the Alpine Triton can be seen.

Nature Reserve of Diaccia Botrona
It extends over 1273 hectars and it is considered the most important waterside area in Italy and since 1991 it became a waterside area of international importance as well. The avifauna is among the most important aspects of the Reserve with beyond 200 species present during the year and about 80 present in the nesting arc of the year.

Pescinello Nature Reserve

Tomboli di Follonica Nature Reserve
It extends along the shoreline that goes from Follonica to Scarlino. Its vegetation is mainly represented from domestic pine and sclerofille. Along dunes the typical ammofila vegetation can be found

Belagaio National Nature Reserve
A part of the Reserve is devoted to crop-growing while a dense wood area goes along the banks of River Farma and ends at the Belagaio Castle. The castle was originally built in 12th century and in the coursse of the centuries it passed of hand to several aristocratic families like the Aldobrandeschi, Ardengheschi and Grottanelli. Red Wood-Peckers, Owls and Screech-Owls can be observed.

Monte Labbro Nature Reserve
The Monte Labbro is situated on the southwest side of the Monte Amiata. It extends over 667 hectars. On the top of the Monte Labbro some historical buildings concerned with the Giurisdavidic Movement of Davide Lazzaretti, are worth a walk. The vegetation is rather poor, being the territory of medium mountain, but it sees however the presence of Turkey Oaks, Chestnuts Trees, Elm trees, Kernels and maple trees. Several different species of animal are present instead : shunks, pole-cats, martens, wild cats; between the rapaci we remember the harrier eagle, the "pecchiaiolo" hawk, the kite, the ALBANELLE (a type of falcon) and the lanners. Snakes are numerous also.

Lago dell'Accesa Archeological Park (Etruscan period - 6th century B.C.)

Roselle (Etruscan period - Roselle is one of the main Etruscan cities, founded in the /th century B.C.. Very interesting is the visible archeological stratification, dating back from the 7th century B.C. through the 11 century A.C.)

Cosa (Roman period - The first and most important roman colony in Toscana, was founded in 273 B.C.. Today is part of the territory of Ansedonia.)

Vetulonia (Etruscan period - The most ancient witnesses regarding the settlement of human being in the area date back to the Iron Age; its necropolis shows graves of different periods going from the 8th century B.C. to the 6th century B.C.).

Sovana (Etruscan period - The first attestations of settlements in the "Tufo" area, go back to the Bronze Age. The necropolis shows different kind of tombs dating back to the 7th century B.C. and 3rd century B.C..Of great impact is the walk along the monumental "Via Cava" (Canyon dug in the Tufo).

Pitigliano (Etruscan period- 7th century B.C.necropolis; the medieval and renaissance development of the town has cancelled every trace of the former Etruscan settlement; the first citations of Pitigliano go back to 1061. It was possession of the Aldobrandeschi and other aristocratic families of the time.

Populonia (Etruscan period- Populonia rises on the top of Piombino's Cape and it is the only pointed out Etruscan city on the sea.

Rocca di S. Silvestro
Is a village founded in the second half of the 10th century, for will of the Gherardesca Family interested in the mining exploitation. It is the only known example of productive takeover of the age.

Monterotondo Marittimo
It is located at 540 mts on sea level in a natural area surrounded by chestnut woods. Since the 12th century the Monterotondo Castle was dominated by the Conti Alberti; it passed then under control of Massa Marittima and in 1335 was included, with its territory, in the jurisdiction of Siena..

Montieri
The first written document concerning the castle, dates back to 973. Between the 12th and 13th centuries the castle was object of disputes between Volterra and Siena which wanted to have the control over the silver mines of the territory. The Emperor Federico II, interested also in the mining activities, took over the control of the castle around 1250. The castle then was occupied, in 1341, by the Republic of Siena, but in 1364 it was destroyed by some English Venture Soldiers. It was partly rebuilt in 1371.

Gerfalco
The first information on Gerfalco goes back to the 12th century. Leaned to the Porta Senese of the town, a circular truncated tower, once one of the towers of the castle, can be seen. The castle was initially under the dominion of the Pannocchieschi and subsequently it passed under the Aldobrandeschi.

Scarlino
Important castle of the 12th century pertaining to the Bishop of Roselle and subsequently to the Alberti. At the beginning of 1200 the Aldobrandeschi family bought it and in 1278 they sold it to Pisa. It then passed to the Appiani of Piombino in 1398 and entered to make part of the Granducato of Tuscany in 1815. It is still today in good state of conservation.

Giuncarico
The most ancient citation of the castle dates back to 772. It was property of the Aldobrandeschi. From the 12th century it was under the control of Siena. The Pannocchieschi which came after the Aldobrandeschi, conserved the rights on the castle for quite a long time. Today only some details of the castle are visible as others by now are part of buildings of different ages.

LANDSCAPE, BOTANY AND GASTRONOMY

Take the chance to walk along unspoilt paths and discover new recipes tied to the use of natural products that our land has to offer.