Terra di Toscana www.terraditoscana.com

Second leg

Cycling in the Crete senesi

Castelnuovo Berardenga (351 M s.l.m.) - Monte S.S. Marie (326 M s.l.m.) - Asciano (200 M s.l.m.)

From Castelnuovo go downhill to the Siena-Perugia highway. Taking care, as there can sometimes be quite heavy traffic, turn left and cycle for about a kilometre till you come to a junction. Follow the signs for Torre a Castello, and go uphill along the road till you reach the village of the same name. Take an unpaved road on the right that leads to the hamlet of Sante Marie. The route goes downhill steeply until it comes to the Asciano-Siena railway line. Then there is a steep climb up to a country farmhouse where there are more extensive views, and Siena can be seen in the distance. The final part of the road is a constant up and down. After a final descent, join provincial road 438 by a bridge, and from here it is not far to Asciano.

Starting point Castelnuovo Berardenga 351 m s.l.m.
Length Km 19.8
Time required 2 hours, 30 minutes
Difference in height m. 300
Surface 20% asphalt, 80% unpaved roads
Difficulty MCA
Difficult climbs Only a few brief stretches
Maps   Atlante Stradale d'Italia (centro), carta 1:200.000, De Agostini-Tav. 9
Quality of views High
Recommended places to visit Castelnuovo Berardenga and Asciano
Info Albergo "Lo Spiedo" (Asciano) tel 0577/724070
Next...

 

Text and pictures Gianfranco Bracci
Translation: Jeremy Carden


Terraditoscana © Polimedia - All rights reserved
Press registration n. 5528 10/11/2006 - Editor Polimedia - P.IVA 06790950486