Walking & Trekking in Tuscany | The calanchi or badlands in the valleys below Castiglioncello Bandini

Podere Santa Pia | Brief itinerary exploring the Mediterranean macchia and calanchi in the valley between Podere Santa Pia and Cinigiano

This brief itinerary starts and ends at the gate of Casa Vacanze Podere Santa Pia. It explores the Mediterranean macchia and calanchi in the valley below Santa Pia. Old ruins, a particular hunting chair and the impressive declining grounds of the calanchi, it all offers a great experience. The roads and the paths going through this wild area give the visitor the opportunity to see sceneries of unexpected beauty.
The tour is not difficult except for the last track (just before half way) where you leave the road towards the hunting chair, continuing on a small ridge of red grounds.

Lenghth: 3,85 km, 1 hour 20 minutes

Easy, except for the track halfway

Download gpx tracks | The-calanchi-in-the-valleys-below-podere-santa-pia.gpx

Starting Point, the cypresses of Podere Santa Pia

c


Directions following gpx tracks or on the map above 1 - Turn left and follow the road downhill. Going straight ahead would lead you to La Dimora Podere Santa Margherita. 2 - Straight on, uphill 3 - Follow the road on your right, towards Podere Federano. This old farm in ruin will appear on the top of the hill. You walk around the old buildings and follow the road downhill. 4 - Here you leave the road, going upwards on your left towards a remarkable hunting chair, continuing downhill on a small ridge of red grounds. 5 - Hunters' chair to overlook the river and the valley 6 - Calanchi - Mediterranean macchia and calanchi in the valley below Santa Pia

Calanchi in the valley below Santa Pia
7 - When entering a field, turn left, following the edge until you cross the road 8 - Turn right, following the road uphill 9 - Turn right, following the road uphill. The road on your left leads to Cinigiano Tree Old tree on your left (probably a Downey oak) that was hit by lightning When a tree is struck by lightning the liquids inside the trunk turn to gas instantly, leading to an explosion of bark. Not all trees are equally vulnerable to lightning. Species of trees most commonly struck by lightning include oak, elm, maple, poplar, ash, spruce, fir, pine, and tulip tree. 10 - Podere Federano appears again. The ruins of Podere Federano. This was one of the 17 poderi or farms belonging to the castle in Castiglioncello Bandini, Castiglion del Torto. Above the old buildings, you see the silhouette of Castiglioncello Bandini and Poggio all’Olmo. 11 - We suggest to turn right, steeply uphill. This is a shortcut to Podere Santa Pia. Going straight ahead is the same track we used in the beginning, and also leads you first to La Dimora Podere Santa Margherita and later, following the road on your right to Podere Santa Pia. 12 - Turn left, to cross the hill towards Podere Santa Pia, hidden between olive and oak trees. A beautiful view on this holiday resort and its grounds open up. 13 - Here we hit the road again. Turn right for a final short stretch towards Podere Santa Pia.
Castiglioncello Bandini album

Castiglioncello Bandini, Castiglion del Torto	Celebrare il dolce far niente	Cinigiano, view from Castiglioncello Bandini


Biancane near Monte Oliveto Maggiore	Monte Oliveto Maggiore	Biancane hills in the badlands of Accona Desert
Taking a break in the shadow of an olive tree, just before reaching the ruins of Podere Federano.
Een bericht gedeeld door Podere Santa Pia (@poderesantapia) op 15 Feb 2017 om 3:43 PST
#poderesantapia Una lenta passeggiata lungo le strade bianche. Podere Santa Pia si trova vicino a Castiglioncello Bandini, immersi nella campagna Toscana.
Related itinerary \| From Podere Santa Pia (Castiglioncello Bandini) to Cinigiano Along the rivers in Tuscany \| Hiking along the Rancioa riverbed Traveling in Italy \| Calanchi e biancane \| Un tesoro della natura [1] See the map on WikiLoc \| The calanchi or badlands in the valleys below Podere Santa Pia\| Powered by Wikiloc