Giuseppe Garibaldi found in Rapolano relief to his wounds by immersing himself in the travertine tubs full of miraculous thermal water.
The waters and the travertine represent a great wealth for a territory where the Sienese hills give way to the rough and clayish Crete Senesi. Hills where the cultivation of olive oil guarantees a product of great quality.
The route, short and not difficult, but with some stretch of dirt road, allows the cyclist to get to know and observe the gifts offered to us by nature and the skillful hands of man.
We recommend using a touring, gravel, or MTB bike and ride with your head held high.
Please note that the stretch of road from Rigomagno Scalo to Rigomagno village has prohibitive slopes for untrained cyclists but, for its lonely beauty, it is not to be missed. Therefore, we suggest walking, unless you have a pedal-assisted bike.
Itinerario e Tappe
The direction of travel is Asciano, but soon, having reached a small bridge over the railway, we turn towards Serre di Rapolano, which can be seen, with its historic buildings and white stretches of travertine, lying at the foot of the hill.
In Serre di Rapolano, a village with a characteristic medieval profile, the ancient Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala built the Grancia, a large granary which today houses a very interesting museum where it is possible to learn about the ancient oil processing.
From Serre you take the road to the travertine quarries, a precious white stone which is still being extracted today. The view of the quarries is surprising and of great scenic effect. From the quarries, proceed towards Val di Chiana along the coplanar of the highway where you can pedal easily and safely up to Rigomagno Scalo. A bad and lonely climb leads to the medieval village of Rigomagno, located on the hill adorned with olive trees. The next dirt road leads to Poggio l'Aiole from where you can arrive near the Calcione dam, a beautiful lake hidden in thick woods where mushroom seekers have immortalized in a video an unsuspected peaceful kangaroo. A stop at the lake is a must before heading to the medieval castle of Modanella and then to Poggio Santa Cecilia, the ghost town that has remained intact. Situated at the mouth of the hillocks separating Val di Chiana from Ombrone, the village has a fortified structure and is surrounded by a splendid park. It is a solitary place where silence can speak only of the stay that Garibaldi made there and of the carriage that daily brought him to the Antica Querciolaia.
Once in the vicinity of Rapolano, we go around the town for a visit to the village that was even an autonomous municipality before the Lorraine reforms: Armaiolo in Val d'Ombrone, which has always been faithful to the Republic of Siena. The Ombrone flows just downstream of Armaiolo, with the ford chosen by Hannibal and his elephants in the journey to Lake Trasimeno.
Rapolano is just a stone's throw away and in the village you can choose between a bath at the spa and a well-deserved bruschetta with precious olive oil. When in doubt, both choices can be taken into consideration.