Easy hikes and walks in Riserva Naturale Basso Merse

The thermal water springs from the ground at 40° and creates several pools, forming a real little thermal bath.

Mandatory pit stop at the Petriolo spa, the water has a temperature of 42°. There is a food truck where you can eat very well.

The former railway line has been opened up for tourism for hikers, cyclists and horse riders. Many information boards tell the story, benches invite you to linger. The structures (bridges, gorges, etc.) are interesting. However, the route is damaged in some places, so the passage by bike is not very easy (short, narrow, steep path). Impossible with the horse. Here is the official information: On the tracks of the railway from Miniere di Murlo This trail follows the first part of the railway track that served the mining village of Murlo. The railway began operations in 1877, transporting lignite and lime produced here to the coastal Grosseto region and northern Italian markets. It was believed that only a fast transportation system like the railway could compete with the great distances that separated Murlo from the main commercial centers. The Società Anonima della Miniera Carbonifera di Murlo was the company that built the standard gauge railway (143.5 cm) and initially operated the mining business (1872-1876); In this phase, the railway reached Volta al Salcio, near Monte Antico, where it joined the Siena-Monte Amiata-Grosseto national railway line. Mining activity was continued by the Compagnie Francaise des Charbonnages de Pienza (1876-1885) and the Società Generale per l'Industria delle Ligniti Italiane (1886-1894) and then ceased for about 25 years until the Società SAI-Ansaldo built the disused one in 1918 railway line and converted it into a narrow-gauge railway (95 cm), which was more economical and sufficient for the small locomotives used. Ansaldo ceased operations in 1922 when the last section of the mining railway (between La Befa and Monte Antico) was expropriated for the construction of the Siena-Buonconvento-Monte Antico line, which was completed in 1927. A new management of the Murlo mines only began in 1940, when the Società Miniere Carbonifere di Murlo converted the railway into a narrow-gauge "Decauville" type (60 cm) that was even cheaper, easier and quicker to lay. to La Befa; A warehouse was built here from which lignite was loaded onto trains on the new route to Grosseto. When the railway to Grosseto became unusable after the German damage in 1944, mining activity was stopped again. Finally, the management changed from 1951 to 1968 to Società Calce, Cementi, Carboni e Laterizi di Murlo, which was actually never active. Information about the route: Distance: 7 km Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes Total ascent: -188 m Difficulty: easy trail, all downhill to La Befa train station. Hiking shoes or boots and a good supply of water are required. The route can be covered on foot, by bike or on horseback. The last section between Molino della Befa and the train station is passable but has little traffic. For the way back on the same path, a total ascent of +188 m and about 2 hours can be expected.

Bridge over the crevole river in the path on the route of the old murlo mines railway

The Terme di Petriolo are a Tuscan thermal spring. The location is in the Ombrone Valley, along the course of the Farma river, on the border between the municipalities of Monticiano and Civitella Paganico, respectively in the province of Siena and in that of Grosseto. Source: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terme_di_Petriolo

We walked up the Petriolo river from Bagni and back. Best in summer at low tide. Bathing shoes or barefoot shoes are cheap.