We set off from the hamlet of Fosso, passing through the entry gate to the Calafuria Nature Reserve and taking the unpaved road known as Via Dorsale. At first, the track skirts the left bank of the Fosso Maroccone and, after a short while, begins to climb towards the ridge, winding through pines and holm oaks.
After about 10 minutes, the climb becomes gentler and we walk along the small path that cuts through the thick Mediterranean scrub. After a sharp curve to the left, the view on the Montaccio hill, with its fire tower, unfolds before our eyes. Shortly after, we pass, disregarding them, a fork on the right for Via degli Allori and then a fork on the left for Via del Maroccone and, again, a fork on the left for Via della Cava until we come to a widening where the road forks. On the right, Via del Telegrafo is indicated, while our path continues uphill on the left reaching, after 10 minutes, the “Semaforo del Montaccio” (fire tower): an extraordinary panoramic spot over the entire Etruscan Coast, from Livorno to Piombino, and over the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Staying on the track, we leave the boundaries of the Calafuria Reserve and reach the highest point of the itinerary (about 300 meters above sea level) at the top of a hill with a superb view, characterized by the presence of a renovated farmstead. The track arrives at the village of Castellaccio (1 hour’s walk from the start) where, after the barrier, you will find some refreshment points. We are now just 2 km from Montenero, where the famous sanctuary is located. The itinerary continues back along the path already travelled and, after about 35 minutes downhill, arrives at the widening where you leave Via Dorsale (which descends to the right) and continue straight towards Via del Telegrafo. The path narrows as it enters dense Mediterranean scrubland until Piazzale dei Colombi, where it turns right onto Via dell’Esbosco. As we descend, we pass through a tunnel of thick scrub vegetation overhung by pines and holm oaks.
Soon after, Via dell’Esbosco joins Via degli Allori and continues downhill in the same direction until it passes Piazzale Modesti and a ditch (the bed of a stream), before climbing shortly (disregarding the fork on the left to Via dell’ENEL) until it joins Via Dorsale, rejoining the path taken at the beginning of the itinerary. Here we turn left downhill to our starting point.
STARTING AND ARRIVAL POINT: FOSSO, NEAR TORRE DEL BOCCALE (CALAFURIA).
DISTANCE: 6,4 KM
DURATION: 2 HOURS AND A HALF, 1 HOUR BY MOUNTAIN BIKE
TYPE OF ROUTE: CART TRACKS AND PATHS
DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT: 280 METERS DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM – EASY
THE CALAFURIA NATURE RESERVE
The Calafuria Biogenetic Nature Reserve covers an area of about 115 hectares between the coast and the adjacent inland area. It offers a splendid opportunity to explore the Mediterranean scrub habitat, which summarizes the environmental aspects of the Etruscan Coast.
Among the high-trunk vegetation, we find Aleppo pines and holm oaks, while the Mediterranean scrub is characterized by phillyrea, lentisk, manna ash, strawberry tree, myrtle and laurel. Wild boars, martens, porcupines, foxes, hedgehogs and beech martens are among the “inhabitants” of the reserve.
For information and contacts: Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Ufficio Territoriale per la biodiversità,
Via Roma 3, Cecina (LI); tel. 0586.684220, fax 0586 630987, utb.cecina@corpoforestale.it;
www.parchi-italiani.com/parchi/
NOTES:
We reach the starting point from “Torre del Boccale”, on the Calafuria coast. You leave the Aurelia State Road, coming from the South (obligatory because there is a traffic island at the point in question) at km 306,900 turning right under the arch under the railway line. After 250 meters, you arrive at the gate that marks the boundary of the Calafuria Nature Reserve.
