Nature and history between Rocca Sillana and Valle del Pavone

The Rocca can, of course, also be reached by a simple walk of about 800 metres from the car park below.

Only the stretch of path that descends from the Rocca towards the Valle del Pavone requires a bit of skill and for this reason the ring is not regarded as a tourist route but as a hiking route.

It starts from the small village of San Dalmazio where you can discover an area that has been inhabited for thousands of years, rich in memories and well evident traces: note the ruins of one of the oldest “mother churches” in Tuscany, the Pieve di San Giovanni Battista, traces of the road network of the past, farms and springs.

At every step you can see the remains of man’s hard work, not only in the fields but also in the mines (just take a look from the many spectacular viewpoints at the bottom of the valley of the Pavone).

Above it all, solitary and imposing, towers the Rocca Sillana, an important Medicean fortress of the Renaissance period built on the former site of earlier, more ancient structures and that sometimes seems to be just waiting for visitors to come. As you climb the mountain, you will not only discover the history of this place, but you will also be rewarded with the view of one of the most majestic panoramas Tuscany has to offer: in the distance the sea, the Apennines, the Apuan Alps, Chianti, Amiata; but also the geothermal area, Volterra and the Monterufoli and Berignone Nature Reserves. A route capable of offering not just a hiking trip but rather an experience that offers a powerful key to understanding the territory and its evolution.

Hiking difficulty scale

T - Tourist

Itineraries on small roads, mule tracks or easy paths, with clearly evident routes that do not pose uncertainties or problems of orientation. They generally take place below 2000 m and usually constitute access to mountain pastures or refuges. They require some knowledge of the mountain environment and physical preparation for walking.

E - Hiking

Routes that almost always turn on paths, or on traces of passage in various terrain (pastures, debris, stony ground), usually with signs. They require a certain sense of orientation, as well as a certain experience and knowledge of the mountainous territory, walking training, as well as appropriate footwear and equipment. Normally the difference in altitude is between 500 and 1000m.

EE - Expert hikers

Routes not always marked and which require a good ability to move on various mountain terrains. They can be paths or even faint traces that wind over rough or steep terrain, with steep and slippery slopes, scree and short snowfields that can be overcome without the use of climbing equipment. They need a good mountain experience, firm footing and good physical preparation. It is also necessary to have adequate equipment and equipment, as well as a good sense of direction. Normally the difference in height is greater than 1000m.

EEA - Expert hikers with mountaineering equipment

Routes that require the use of via ferrata equipment (lanyards, harness, heat sink, helmet, etc.). They can be equipped paths or real via ferratas. It is necessary to know how to use the technical equipment safely and have a certain habit of exposure and mountaineering terrain.

MTB difficulty scale

TC - Tourist

Route on dirt roads with a compact and smooth surface, suitable for vehicles.

BC - For cyclists with good technical skills

Route on very bumpy dirt roads or on mule tracks and paths with a rather bumpy but fairly smooth surface or compact but irregular, with some natural obstacles (eg rock steps or roots).

OC - For cyclists with excellent technical skills

As above but on very bumpy and / or very irregular paths, with significant presence of obstacles.

EC - Maximum level for the cycle excursionist

Path on very irregular paths, characterized by steps and obstacles in continuous succession, which require trial-type techniques.