Among the wonderful “Terre di Siena” we must undoubtedly mention the Merse Valley, that extends as far as the West-South of the chief town, wedging along the flow of the river with the same name and reaches the northern part of the Metallifere Hills. This area, that includes the municipal districts of Sovicille, Murlo, Monticiano and Chiusdino, is marked by a close road and route network, not only in contact with an untouched nature, but also with interesting historical and artistic evidence. It is definitely the ideal place to practice a kind of “slow” and “ecological” tourism: cycling!
This territory offers many opportunities (you can find a detailed list in the site www.terresiena.it) because it is well-organized to foster cycling tourism, with suitable routes both for families and for the most experienced and demanding cyclists. In particular, you can choose between two different itineraries that pass exactly through our Trecciano estate: the Montagnola Sienese Tour and the Grand Tour of the Merse Valley.
Discovering Montagnola
It is an itinerary that starts from Sovicille and develops for about 50 Km, completely on asphalt. It is a wavy path, with two quite long slopes, but characterized by a constant gait. Along the route, among woods of ilex, oak, maple and chestnut trees (we talked about this in this post about the Senese Montagnola territory) you will meet the very fine Pieve di Ponte dello Spino (XI century) and about 16 Km away you will see the Celsa Castle (XVII century). Once you have got over the Celsa Pass (573 m. at sea level), several road streches, alternating ups and downs, will lead you to Simignano (where you can meet the Sienese cinta pigs pasturing in the wood) and Ancaiano. Not far from this village, among age-old olive trees and Sangiovese vineyards, you will run along the Trecciano Estate, a few hundred metres away from Sovicille.
The Grand Tour of the Merse Valley
For the most trained cyclists, but also for who wants to go calmly and try a multy-day itinerary, you can choose the Grand Tour of the Merse Valley: it is a 172 Km ring that passes through the Sienese Montagnola that we have described above, goes up the Val d’Elsa and then goes down southbound towards the Ombrone Valley and then up again heading North the Crete Senesi.
There are numerous and important points of interest: just remember the famous Cistercian San Galgano Abbey [photo], the Petriolo and Stigliano Terme (with the elegant castle towers) and Torri (where you can find the Romanesque polychrome cloister of the Santa Mustiola Abbey).
Anyway there are many other shorter and simpler itineraries that allow you to discover not only nature and art … but also the Tuscan food and wine! That is why at Trecciano Estate we are equipped to welcome cyclists and offer them guided tastings of our wines, accompanied by some typical local products.
What are you waiting for? Let’s go cycling!
