Mount Amiata is an ancient extinct volcano that reaches 1738 meters above sea level. It is also a well-known ski resort that attracts numerous tourists and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Mount Amiata is the highest mountain in southern Tuscany and is covered with dense forests of chestnut, fir, and beech trees. It is a fascinating place rich in history, art, and nature. Located in the provinces of Grosseto and Siena, it overlooks the Maremma plain and the gentle hills of Siena.

The villages of Amiata

There are many places to visit in this mountainous area, starting from its characteristic villages, ideal as a destination for a trip focused on history and good food.

Among the most interesting to visit and easily accessible for those staying in our facility, we suggest:

Santa Fiora, the city of water and home to one of the most lush ancient gardens belonging to the Sforza Counts;

Arcidosso, a classic medieval village perched on top of a small mountainous hill, dominated by the picturesque Aldobrandeschi Castle that resembles something out of a fairytale;

Castel Del Piano, an ancient village that belonged to the Abbey of San Salvatore and known today for the famous ‘Palio delle Contrade’. A valuable folk event that takes place every year on September 8th during the festival of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Activities and places to visit:

Parks

Faunal Park of Mount Amiata The Faunal Park of Mount Amiata is a protected nature reserve that extends for 200 hectares in the municipality of Arcidosso. The goal of the Faunal Park is to safeguard local wildlife. Here it’s possible to spot wild animals living freely while observing them from afar along guided paths. This park is perfect for a family walk but also for hiking enthusiasts. Within the reserve there are numerous trails, including a 3-hour one that leads to the summit of Mount Labbro where the remains of the Giurisdavidic Tower dedicated to the prophet David Lazzaretti can be found.

Gardens

Daniel Spoerri’s Garden: Daniel Spoerri’s Garden is a picturesque monumental park located near Seggiano in the hamlet of Pescina. A corner of paradise covering 16 hectares designed by Swiss artist Daniel Spoerri, who transformed a simple estate on the slopes of Mount Amiata into a garden of wonders. Inside the garden, there are 113 installations by 55 different artists that unfold among trees, shrubs, and olive trees. The monumental park is open to the public from April to October on Fridays through Sundays.

Amusement Park Indian Park: Indian Park is an adventure park located just 5 km from the summit of Mount Amiata in Prato delle Macinaie in the municipality of Castel Del Piano. An adventure park in the heart of Amiata with games tailored to different age groups, spanning two hectares among beech and fir trees. Indian Park offers 5 different courses for adults and 3 for children. Each course is preceded by an explanatory briefing by instructors to learn how to handle the provided carabiners. Then you proceed independently starting from easier paths and progressing towards more difficult ones.

Admission tickets for Indian Park are based on time spent in the park. Opening hours and price lists can be found by visiting their website at amiata.indianpark.it

Museums National Park Museum of Amiata Mines: The National Park is one of Maremma’s most suggestive places. It is a place where culture, history, and tradition of ancient local societies emerge clearly enriching visitors. “National Park Museum of Amiata Mines” was established in 2002 and among its tasks, in addition to safety measures, recovery of artifacts, and environmental protection of Amiata’s mining sites, is the conservation of archives, promotion of studies, collection of testimonies and the enhancement for tourism purposes of the park’s territory. Over the years, many interventions have been carried out aimed at conserving and recovering Amiata’s mining structures, as well as activities related to research and collection of oral testimonies on work and life in the mines.

The Park includes:

• The Mining Museum in Abbadia San Salvatore which allows visitors to explore the mines from which mercury was extracted from 1899 to 1972.
• The Mercury Mines Museum of Monte Amiata, located in Piazza Garibaldi in Santa Fiora. An exhibition path that unfolds through six rooms, allowing visitors to retrace mining activity and its closely related events that strongly characterized Mount Amiata between the 19th and 20th centuries.

The National Park Museum of Amiata Mines is open every day from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. For more details, please consult the website parcoamiata.com

Museum of Oriental Art and Culture (MACO)

MACO is the Museum of Oriental Art and Culture conceived and designed by Prof. Namkhai Norbu in Arcidosso. Inside this museum is the private collection of President Comunità Dzogchen Internazionale, Fondazione Shang Shung, ASIA Onlus consisting of artworks and ethnographic artifacts relating to Himalayan and Central Asian culture. MACO is located in the former chancellery of Aldobrandeschi Castle in Arcidosso and aims to preserve and promote the Namkhai Collection while disseminating the value of Eastern and Himalayan cultural heritage.