Forests and waterfalls in the Monterufoli-Caselli Reserve
In the heart of the Metalliferous Hills lies an area where forests grow thickly, crisscrossed by rivers and streams that entice us to go on an adventure.
Riding through the Caselli Nature Reserve and the nearby Monterufoli area means exploring a stretch of unspoiled nature. The thick evergreen patches of vegetation offer up glimpses of striking rock outcroppings overlooking the crystal waters and numerous small waterfalls, while numerous species of Mediterranean animals live undisturbed in the bushy vegetation.
The route, to be done on a gravel bike or MTB, is short and rather simple, suitable for those who like to penetrate into the silence of remote places rich in charm. The looped route through the reserve allows you to explore much of the Val di Sterza, with its famed waterfall, piercing the wild heart of the Caselli forest.
With a bit of luck, you will even make the acquaintance of the “Cavallino di Monterufoli”, a hardy small dark bay that lives in the wild.
From the picnic area in the locality of La Pompa, you are immediately plunged into the Nature Reserve by following a dirt road, immersed in a beautiful “cerreta” (a wood of Austrian oaks), that takes us to the enchanting Caselli pond, a place with naturalistic and scenic undertones worthy of a stop. Continue climbing into the wildest heart of Caselli where, among rocks and thickets, apparently never-ending views open up. Reaching the ridge at 1,600 feet (485 meters), it is worth taking a short detour to visit the Golazze Aperte, a rocky outcrop in a splendid panoramic position, from which the spectacle of the coast and the Tuscan Archipelago opens up.
Following this, we enter the evergreen thickets of the Magona—intensely exploited since the 16ᵗʰ century to obtain wood for the Cecina ironworks—then take the scenic Strada di Faltona that descends back into Val di Sterza. At Podere La Gabella, you have the opportunity to take a detour to bike to the Reserve’s only small and ancient village, La Sassa. Here, the views sweep over the sea and the “whole world.” Indeed, it won’t be easy to leave such beauty and silence.