The best walks and hikes around Massa Marittima

The environment is the classic one to favor pasture

Continuing along the road that crosses the village of Capanne, you can reach La Pesta, a small flat area about 10 km from Massa Marittima. On the slopes of Poggio Bindo, in the immediate vicinity, the small extraction castle of Pozzo 4 stands out, and some mine entrances are still visible. But the main attraction of this area is perhaps the Lago dell’Accesa, of great naturalistic and environmental interest. The Accesa area is also interesting from an archaeological point of view: in the locality of Macchia del Monte, excavation works in the 1930s and 1980s brought to light the remains of four Etruscan villages, dating from the 9th to the 6th century BC, of which only the foundations can be seen. Given the location, it is hypothesized that these villages were linked to the mining of copper, mainly from the Fenice Capanne and Serrabottini mines. These remains have provided a testimony of considerable importance.

The Colline Metallifere are a hilly area in west-central Tuscany (provinces of GR, LI, PI, SI), renowned for its mineral deposits exploited since Etruscan times and for its landscape characterized by woods and sites of geological interest. The territory hosts a National Park recognized by UNESCO, a hub for cultural and naturalistic tourism.

About 10 km from Massa Marittima, we find Lago dell’Accesa, of great naturalistic-environmental and historical-archaeological interest, so much so that its suggestive atmosphere has given rise to numerous legends. Of karstic origin, the lake is about 38 meters deep and feeds the Bruna river, which is its only estuary. In addition to being suitable for swimming, it can also offer refreshment in the summer months thanks to the typical vegetation that surrounds it, consisting of reeds, rushes, poplars and eucalyptus trees, as well as the typical Mediterranean scrub, and it is easily suited for pleasant walks along the shores and in the surroundings. The crystal-clear waters are populated by a varied fish fauna, including trout, pike, carp, and perch, and there is no shortage of an equally rich population of aquatic birds. The Accesa area is also extremely relevant from an archaeological point of view. Near the lake, in the Macchia del Monte area, numerous excavations were carried out as early as the 1930s, then resumed in the 1980s, which brought to light numerous remains of four Etruscan villages dating from the 9th to the 6th century BC. The buildings of the various settlements, of which only the foundations are visible, are gathered in scattered groups within a rather large area. Given the location, it is hypothesized that these villages were linked to mining, especially copper from the mines of Fenice Capanne and Serrabottini. It is also thought that these mining villages were extraction outposts that were subordinate to the large center of Vetulonia, to which they supplied raw materials. In addition to the complexes intended for housing and extractive activities, many tombs of various typologies (well, pit, circle, and chamber tombs) have also been found.

The Poggi di Prata are wide, rounded limestone uplands, with grassy summits and slopes largely covered by oak and chestnut woods. They take their name from the village of Prata, which stands on an elongated hill on the southeastern slopes of the hills themselves. There are two main peaks: the Poggione, which is the highest and most prominent summit, and the Poggio Croce di Prata, overlooking the homonymous village.

The Poggi di Prata are wide, rounded limestone reliefs, with grassy summits and slopes largely covered by oak and chestnut woods. They take their name from the village of Prata, which stands on an elongated hill on the southeastern slopes of the hills themselves. There are two main peaks: the Poggione, which is the highest and most prominent summit, and the Poggio Croce di Prata, overlooking the village of the same name.

I Poggi di Prata are wide, rounded reliefs of limestone, with grassy summits and slopes largely covered by oak and chestnut woods. They take their name from the village of Prata, which stands on an elongated hill on the southeastern slopes of the hills themselves. There are two main peaks: Il Poggione, which is the highest and most prominent summit, and Poggio Croce di Prata, overlooking the village of the same name.

Lago dell'Accesa is a charming and tiny lake of just 14 hectares with a depth that reaches 50 meters. Its crystal-clear waters come from underground springs, the bottom is clear sand with areas where the water remains shallow. It is immersed in the Maremma nature surrounded by a dense deciduous forest of oaks and holm oaks with various picnic areas. In the good season, the experience of a dip is absolutely to be tried, you will also find a tiny fine sand beach.