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Third leg

Cycling in the Crete senesi

Asciano (200 M s.l.m.) - Trequanda (453 M s.l.m.) - Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore (273 M s.l.m.) - Buonconvento (147 M)

Take the road from Asciano towards Val d'Asso until you come to the panoramically-situated junction. Turn left and cycle downhill into the Val d'Asso.
Cross the river and the railway, and go straight on to the village of Trequanda, which you will see perched on a hill as you come round a corner. There are a number of terracotta workshops and factories that you can visit here. Then carry on in the direction of Montisi, and after various up and down stretches, you come to S. Giovanni d'Asso. After passing through the hamlets of Soli and Montefresco, you reach Chiusure, which is situated in an extremely panoramic position offering a splendid view of the gully-etched Crete Senesi and the imposing Abbazia di Monte Oliveto. From Chiusure, go left and follow the signs for Monte Oliveto. After visiting the imposing monastic complex founded in 1313 by Bernardo Tolomei, return to the main road and go downhill to Buonconvento, where you can catch a train that in about thirty minutes will take you back to Siena.

Starting point Asciano (200m)
Length 42.5 km
Time required 4 hours
Difference in height 370 m
Surface 80% asphalt, 20% unpaved roads
Difficulty MC
Difficult climbs None
Maps   Atlante Stradale d'Italia (centro), 1: 200,000, De Agostini - Tav. 9
Quality of views Very high
Recommended places to visit Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore
Info Agriturismo Fatt. del Colle (Trequanda), tel. 0577/662108. Information: Azienda di Soggiorno di Siena, tel. 0555/280551

 

Text and pictures Gianfranco Bracci
Translation: Jeremy Carden


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