Maremma really is a special part of untouched Tuscany, a large area on the west coast of Tuscany which stretches from Piombino to the Tuscan border with Lazio, the port city which many travellers fail to visit, offering excellent ‘frutti di mare‘ from the many seafood restaurants.
The region has escaped significant tourism, and is any discerning cyclists idea of paradise, with copious aomounts of flat, undulating terrain and long shallow climbs (and fast descents) which provide great views of the Tirrenian sea. An ideal balance on smooth, sweeping Italian roads some of which you won’t encounter a car all day! Many strade bianche exist here but are not as abundant as those found around Siena, and are saved for MTB excursions due to the poor quality.
The Etruscans populated this region thousands of years ago, and it remains virtually unchanged since. The ruins of Populonia castle are well worth a visit, if not just for the climb up and view across the bay. Visits to the small hill top medieval villages or ‘borghi‘ such as Sassetta, Boccheggiano, Gerfalco, Montieri are characteristic of the area and are extremely complementary to riding the flat plains below cooled by the sea breeze.
We have self-guided routes from the Arcipelago Toscana coast-line, around the Metallifere hills, and into the higher hills (Alta Maremma) for all levels, taking in the best of the area.