A great loop from Campiglia Marittima to the villages along the Etruscan Coast

The Grand Tour Costa Etrusca includes a series of loops designed for gravel bike and MTB enthusiasts, with routes connecting the tourist resorts along the Costa degli Etruschi (Etruscan Coast) to hilly locations via low-traffic dirt or paved roads. This awesome itinerary for exploring some of Tuscany’s most fascinating landscapes offers a combination of nature, culture and history, bolstered by food and wine. 

The loop begins at the Campiglia Marittima station, with an initial flat section reaching the coast. Continue to the San Vincenzo waterfront, where you can opt to pause to admire the statue of the Sailor, a 23-feet (7-meter) bronze sculpture created by artist Giampaolo Talani specifically for the marina.

Once past the town of Donoratico, dominated by the ruins and tower of its medieval castle, head up toward Castagneto Carducci. This area is home to the Strada del Vino, dotted with wineries surrounded by greenery, perfect for a stop to enjoy a tasting of excellent wines, including the famous Sassicaia.

The itinerary becomes more challenging on the way up to Sassetta, yet this delightful town is worth a visit to take a short stroll through the narrow streets and pretty piazzas or even to soak in the warmth of its nearby thermal waters. 

In Suvereto, we enter one of the most beautiful Tuscan villages, a bearer of the Bandiera Arancione (Orange Flag) awarded by the Touring Club. On this small jewel rises the imposing Rocca Aldobrandesca, surrounded by woods of chestnut, oak and cork trees, from which derives its name. 

The route then passes through the center of Campiglia Marittima, whose location dominates the Val di Cornia to offer up splendid views of the Tuscan Archipelago. Here you can take a detour (gpx file for San Vincenzo) or continue downhill towards Venturina Terme (from this link, you can download the gpx file for the detour).

To conclude with a well-deserved and nicely-relaxing break, you can opt to stop at the Etruscan-Roman Baths before returning to the Campiglia Marittima station to close up the loop. 

This itinerary can be accomplished even in one day if you’re in good form. Still, we recommend breaking it into two or more days so you can take your time on the visits and fully enjoy the beauty of the locations.