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Itinerary n. 1 •
La Vittoria - Traversa - Amiata - Cassia
Strada della Bonifica - La Vittoria
(Lunghezza 28 KM)
This
is a good route to follow in the late autumn and in the winter
when the Val d'Orcia, with its dry climate, is rarely subject
to fog and rainfall is generally below the seasonal average. The
route, more than half of which is flat and the rest undulating
with very short climbs of less than 300 meters, is suitable both
for beginners and for those who want to keep in trim during the
winter. Gears required on this route are those normally used for
flat country cycling and which are found on most touring bikes.
Indications for the ruoute
It is best to go by car to the Vittoria cross-roads and begin
by taking the road towards Siena.  After
about 1.5 Kms, turn left at the junction and follow the Amiata
road until it meets the Cassia on the right. Follow this road
for another 10 Kms as far as the junction with the Val d'Orcia
provincial road and follow it back to the starting point, a little
more than 28 kms further on. If you feel like pedaling some more
and wish to discover other aspects of this interesting area there
are, at this point, three alternatives: head for Contignano, which
soon reaches a long and rather difficult climb; La Foce; or straight
ahead towards S. Pietro in Campo. In either case, you will have
to decide when to turn round and head back along the same road.
Environmental and historical feratures
Take your time while cycling along this route and enjoy the wonderful
landscape, the clear light, the variety of colors that this countryside
has
to offer and the age-old sculpting of the land by the hand of
man: we are in the heart of the Parco della Val d'Orcia. Climbing
back up along the clear waters of the river Formone on the right
we meet some good examples of the crete senese, typical formations
of the area and locally known as "calanchi" or "biancane", whitish
in color because of the content of sodium sulfate. Wild animals
are quite often seen here. Over the next 10 Kms, which more or
less follow the line of the medieval Francigena route, we see
all the typical features of the valley: the unmistakable profile
of Pienza on the horizon, on the right the imposing structure
of the fortress of Castiglione d'Orcia, to the left
and in front Bagno Vignoni and S. Quirico. 20 kms later we reach
the medieval castle of Spedaletto, and further on the giant umbrella
of querce delle Checche - an oak tree whose age is counted in
centuries. Shortly after there is a cypress-lined ascent: stop
for a moment at the top and you will see (from right to left)
the Rimbecca fortified farm, the river Formone where it joins
the Orcia and in the background the great mass of mount Amiata,
Castelvecchio, the majestic fortress of Radicofani, mount Cetona
and the hills of Pietraporciana.
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