Nature trails

The south-west part of the municipality of Monteriggioni is occupied by the so-called Montagnola Senese, a hilly area that reaches a maximum height of 671 metres with Mount Maggio.

The entire mountain is covered with kilometres of paths which lead up to the gates of Monteriggioni, making it an ideal place for trekking fans. Many paths can also be travelled on horseback and by mountain bikes.

The area is of great natural interest, characterised by woods of turkey oak, ilex oak, hornbeam and chestnut and inhabited by boars, porcupines and foxes.
Along some of the trails which frequently look over breathtaking views there are many amazing natural grottos and stone quarries, amongst which are those of the precious "yellow Siena” marble.
You can reach the majority of the hamlets, castles and monasteries located in Monteriggioni via this network of paths, therefore limiting the need for motor vehicles.

The paths of the Montagnola have an official numbering system assigned by the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) [Italian Alpine Club] of Siena (from 100 to 118) and are indicated along the routes by white and red signposts (reference map: Itinerari nella Montagnola Senese e Bosco di Lecceto, ed. multi-graphic - scale 1:25000; on sale in the Monteriggioni tourist offices).

Over the past few years, the valorisation of a number of specific thematic routes has been promoted (such as that of the Via Francigena), which exploit the various routes that are different to those with CAI numbering.
A specific map was produced for the occasion (“Hiking the Montagnola”) and special signposting installed.
More recently the same has been done to promote specific routes for mountain bikes, for which there is a map (“Pedalare sulla Francigena”) and signposting.
One of these routes is about 46 km long and provides the circuit for the “Gran Fondo Castello di Monteriggioni”, a mountain bike race which in its seventeenth edition in 2008 saw the enrolment of up to 1,200 participants.