Florence & Tuscany - Italy - page 1107

WORTH A TRIP
PARCO REGIONALE DELLA MAREMMA
This spectacular regional park ( www.parco-maremma.it ; adult/reduced €10/5, mountain bike hire per
day €15) incorporates the Uccellina mountain range, a 600-hectare pine forest, marshy plains and a
20km stretch of unspoiled coastline. The main visitor centre ( 05 6440 7098; Via del Bersagliere
7-9; 8.30am-6pm mid-Jun-mid-Sep, to 5pm mid-Sep-mid-Nov, to 2pm mid-Nov-mid-Jun) is in
Alberese, on the park's northern edge.
Park access is limited to 13 signed walking trails, varying in length from 2.5km to 13km; the most
popular is A2 ('Le Torri'), a 5.8km walk to the beach. The entry fee (paid at the visitor centres) varies
according to whether a park-operated bus transports you from the visitor centre to your chosen route.
From 15 June to 15 September the park can only be visited on a guided tour due to possible bushfire
threat.
As well as the walking trails, there are four guided mountain-bike tours (€10 to €15 plus bike hire,
two to six hours) and a guided 2½-hour canoe tour (adult/child €16/10); book these at the visitor
centres. A number of private operators offer horse and pony treks through the park - contact Il Gel-
somino ( 347 7746476; www.ilgelsomino.com ; Via Strada del Barbicato 4, Alberese) or Circolo
Ippico Uccellina ( 334 9797181; www.circoloippicouccellina.it ; Località Collecchio 38,
Magliano in Toscana) ; both offer accommodation and horse-riding treks and lessons.
Parts of the regional park are farmed as they have been for centuries, mainly to graze the famous
Maremma breed of cattle. The huge Agienza Regionale Agricola di Alberese ( 05 6440 7180;
www.alberese.com ; Via della Spergolaia) farm operation produces beef, wine, olive oil and its own or-
ganic pasta and is a regional headquarters for the Slow Food organisation. It offers visitors a farm ex-
perience ( 05 6440 7100; €25; 10am-1pm Thu Jul & Aug, other times by reservation) includ-
ing an introduction to the work of the Maremma's famed butteri (traditional cowboys) and tastings of
farm produce.
The farm offers accommodation in the 15th-century Villa Fattoria Granducale ( 05 6440
7100; www.alberese.com/fattoria-granducale ; B&B d & tr €90-100, self-contained apt €75-125; both
2-night min) and also rents out simple apartments in surrounding farm buildings; check the website
for details.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Città del Tufa
The picturesque towns of Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorano form a triangle enclosing a dra-
matic landscape where local buildings have been constructed from the volcanic porous
rock called tufa since Etruscan times. This inland area is called the Città del Tufa (City of
the Tufa) or, less commonly, the Paese del Tufa (Land of the Tufa).