The best road cycling routes around Montecatini Val Di Cecina

The Castello di Querceto is a historic medieval fortress and a renowned winery located in the heart of Chianti Classico, precisely in the municipality of Greve in Chianti (FI). Since 1897, the property has belonged to the François family, who have transformed the estate into an international benchmark for Tuscan wine production.

Montecatini Val di Cecina is a charming medieval village located in the province of Pisa, in Tuscany, famous for its rich mining history and the magnificent view over the hills of the Val di Cecina.

The Historic Hamlet of Bibbona is a charming village of Etruscan and medieval origins located on the Etruscan Coast. Characterized by a labyrinth of stone-paved alleys, stairways, and arches, the village stands on a hill overlooking the sea, surrounded by the picturesque landscapes of the Val di Cecina.

A jewel nestled among the hills of Val di Cecina, Castello di Querceto dominates the landscape with its discreet and timeless elegance. 🚴‍♂️✨ 🌾 Surrounded by vineyards and white roads, it represents one of the most evocative points of passage in the area of Montecatini Val di Cecina. 📸 The contrast between the historic architecture of the castle and the Tuscan rural landscape makes it a perfect spot for a photo stop.

Castrum Montis Leonis, as the village of Montecatini Val di Cecina was called in ancient times, and its center is indeed characterized by imposing buildings and thick black-and-white striped walls, a castle that must have served as a residence for knights from the North. For a long time it was a territory of contention between Pisa and Volterra, and that war was part of the life of this village can be understood, for example, from the two openings made transversely to the Torre dei Belforti, which allow control of the Mastio of Volterra and the Rocca Sillana, a "telescope"... of yesteryear. This territory, dotted with small villages immersed in nature, is then intimately linked to an element - "precious" in many ways - since the time of the Etruscans: copper. In the 19th century, the copper mines in this area were the largest in Europe and - although they have not been in operation since 1907 - today the tunnel, the mining site of Camporciano, the Mining Museum are still visitable, and one can also admire the various stages of the ancient processing of this element.

An ancient castle located north of the Monterufoli Forest, Micciano stands out from its high reddish gabbro cliff called the 'Pinzo', which faces the hill on which the village of Libbiano stands, separated from the deep Adio Valley. Its name appears to derive from the Latin 'Fundus Mitianus or Maecianus', the name of a Roman legionary who, benefiting from the 'Julian Law', was gifted a large plot of land in that area in exchange for valorous military deeds. The oldest document of the small village's history, dating back to 947, is preserved in the Episcopal Curia of Volterra and refers to the investiture of Giovanni di Giovanni as parish priest, while a papal bull from Pope Alexius III, dated 1076, confirms the donation of Micciano and its court to the Abbey of Monteverdi by Emperor Henry II of Saxony.

Small ice cream parlor with delicious ice cream or a quick espresso - centrally located at the intersection in Bibbona.

Climb towards Montecatini Val di Cecina. 10 km long, cyclable, but in some parts you need to have legs. It is taken from the road that goes from Saline di Volterra to Cecina. The asphalt is not perfect, better to do it uphill, but you can also do it downhill, perhaps with a little attention. Once you get to the top, where there is the wall, if you turn left, you go another 500 meters and you arrive at the Copper mine. It can be visited, and was the largest Copper mine in Europe.