Southern Tuscany is one of the most diverse mountain bike regions in Italy and is a worthwhile destination almost all year round thanks to the climatic conditions. The real epicenter for mountain bikers lies between Piombino, Massa Marittima and Castiglione della Pescaia. However, there are also more and more well-maintained trails in the neighboring areas. The typical maquis forests in the area require a relatively high and regular effort for trail maintenance. This work is usually carried out by local groups and bike hotels.

The mostly flowing single trails run almost exclusively through dense forests and form a sometimes tightly woven network on the wooded hills, which makes orientation challenging. Between the hills are vast areas that used to be marshland and are now mostly used for agriculture. Depending on the area, moving from one hill to the next can be difficult due to the many private properties. It is therefore worth staying in one area for a day or using the services of the numerous bike hotels with guides. If it has rained, it is best to choose one of the areas close to the sea, as the usual coastal wind will quickly dry out the sandy, stony trails.

Differences in the trails depending on the area

In the hills directly behind Follonica and up to Massa Marittima, you will find almost exclusively flowing trails on mostly grippy forest soil. Where, as near Piombino or Castiglione della Pescaia, a range of hills rises directly from the sea, the ground is increasingly stony and sometimes rocky, which is why the trails are mostly dry but somewhat rougher. This also includes the trails on Monte d'Alma, near Tirli and Punta Ala, which were part of the Enduro World Series in 2013 and 2014. Accordingly, these trails have a much more challenging character. The routes on Monte Arsenti near Massa Marittima are a special case. These are specially built for mountain bikers and are beautifully laid out in the terrain. For the ascent in this area, you usually use one of the gravel roads or the spaghetti trail, which was explicitly designed as an uphill trail.