This hiking route crosses the villages of San Baronto, Lamporecchio, and Porciano, offering numerous panoramic viewpoints to admire the plain below and the slopes of the mountain range, characterised by the typical crops of the Tuscan countryside. It can be travelled on foot or by bicycle.
Itinerary
The route begins in San Baronto and offers hikers wide views over the valley below. From the village, take CAI trail 820, which descends southward through olive groves, typical of the sunlit slopes of Montalbano. After passing the hamlet of Alberghi and the village of Spicchio, you can admire the splendour of Villa Rospigliosi. After about 4 km, you reach Lamporecchio, a town well known across Italy for its traditional brigidini—thin, crispy sweet wafers. A visit to the Church of Santo Stefano is worthwhile, where you’ll find a magnificent glazed terracotta altarpiece attributed to Giovanni della Robbia.
Continue along trail 218, which gradually ascends to the village of Porciano, a small medieval hamlet. The village developed around two towers built by the Guidi Counts in the early 13th century, still visible today. About 1.5 km past Porciano, you reach the highest point of the trail near the Sasso di Pietra, a large and curious monolith. Here, the route follows the Montalbano ridge (trail 800) until the first left turn that leads back to San Baronto.
Nearby
Montalbano, Lamporecchio – Villa Rospigliosi, Church of Santo Stefano
Length
14.3 km
Elevation gain
476 m
Difficulty
Hiking: medium
E-bike: easy
Traditional bike: medium