The wonderful event ended after six days at a slow pace excursion organized by the CAI Section of Sienawith departure from Sienaalong a new and fascinating itinerary, up to the golden coast of Castiglione della Pescaia. A dream that becomes reality for Claudio Lucietto and Roberto Callaioli who have traced, for many months, the route that connects the hinterland to the sea. A continuous discovery along paths, woods, ancient settlements and breathtaking views between the provinces of Siena and Grosseto.
“Much of it is a nature trail, especially the part of the Val di Farma and Val di Merse are all woods and there is no trace of human settlement – he explains Claudio Lucietto, CAI Siena hiker guide – . But then as you overlook the Maremma, there are beautiful medieval villages like Roccatederighi which is on a rock spur or like Montemassi and Vetulonia. On our route there were at least five fords, but the most difficult one was that of the Merse River, even if we crossed it upstream and therefore very close to the source, there was not a large flow but if it had been in flood and not we would have passed. The thing I’m satisfied with – continues Lucietto – is that 21 of us left and arrived, so this means that everyone made it, there were no problems and this wasn’t a given, right? And yet we all arrived. The biggest difficulty was the length of the stages. Someone was tired, because the stages, like the last one, were 23 kilometres, and in short they make themselves felt”.
A walking itinerary of 126 km in 6 stages which put me to the test 21 hikers who were welcomed in every place they stopped for refreshment and rest. In addition to the beauty of the landscape and art, it was the meeting with the native people that made the experience truly special.
“In the countries we passed through, we found various types of hospitality and everyone was quite kind – he recounts his experience Roberto Callaioli, CAI Siena hiker -. However, especially in Sassofortino and Roccatederighi, they gave us a truly sensational welcome”.
“The experience was wonderful – he declares Evelina Fannes, CAI Siena member – and we at CAI do the same thing in the mountains with the weeks from refuge to refuge. This was a bit the same, the same formula: you walk all day, you sleep, you have dinner and you leave again the next day. So we knew a little what it was about, only that it was here, in our territory, because we all live in Siena or in the surrounding area and therefore it affects us more closely”.
