The Mines of Murlo and the old railway route

Delve into history and nature along the ancient mining route of Murlo, with a unique itinerary that retraces the railway connecting the mines to the station of La Befa, continuing on to the Monte Antico station along the Strade Ferrate Romane.
Located in the picturesque Valle della Crevole, this trail combines industrial archaeology and natural beauty for a full immersion into the local traditions and mining history of Tuscany. Encompassing bridges, ancient mills and geological landscapes, visitors can relive a lesser-known chapter of Tuscan history and appreciate the landscape shaped by human intervention.

The itinerary begins in the Miniere di Murlo—Mines of Murlo—mining village, a hamlet in the municipality of Murlo, in the Valle della Crevole. From the parking lot of the Castello di Murlo, follow the Strada Comunale della Miniera until the road leads you into the village, the history of which is entirely entwined with the start of the mining activity. Workers’ quarters and equipment maintenance sheds can still be seen here. This mining village, once equipped with a thermal power plant, is a perfect example of an industrial settlement that arose to meet the needs of the local population and the mining industry of the time.

Continuing along the trail, we cross the Crevole Valley, a natural landscape where the Crevole stream once fed numerous mills, used for grinding grain and even cement in the mining village. This valley is significant not only for its industrial history but also for its natural characteristics. Indeed, you are on land that millions of years ago formed the base of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Along the way, you can see sedimentary and magmatic rocks, evidence of an extensive geological evolution.

The route continues by encountering the Mulin dè Frati, a historic mill that existed before the construction of the railroad, as evidenced by the Catasto Leopoldino—the cadaster dating back to 1821. Restored and now used as a vacation home, the mill retains its old-world charm and is further evidence of the ingenuity and industriousness of the local people. A short distance away are two ancient lime kilns, likely used with limestone from a small nearby quarry.

Along the trail, you will traverse two historic bridges that bear witness to the engineering of the time: the bridge over the Crevole stream, extending 72 feet (22 meters) long and restored in 2019, as well as the bridge over the Crevolone, a stone and brick structure of some 118 feet (36 meters) in length. These bridges not only served to cross the waterways but were critical to the operation of the water system that fed the mill.

Finally, the route retraces the path of the old railway, built to transport the lignite extracted from the mines. The wagons were loaded and, once out of the tunnels, pulled by horses to La Befa station, from where the material continued on its journey. This stretch of railroad, a striking example of industrial archaeology in Tuscany, testifies to the technological innovation of the time and the importance of lignite to the local economy. Today, walking these paths, you can breathe in the atmosphere of the past for an authentic experience like no other.

Of note: the route is just over 4 miles (7 kilometers) starting from Murlo and some 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometers) starting from Miniere di Murlo. You can return along the same route or take two car rides (one in La Befa and one in Murlo/Miniere di Murlo) or even catch the train (from the Murlo station in the locality of La Befa).

The total elevation is 427 feet (130 meters) downhill for those starting from Murlo and 360 feet (110 meters) downhill for those starting out from Miniere. And equally so uphill for those leaving from La Befa.
We recommend wearing hiking shoes or boots and taking water with you.

Itinerary by the Municipality of Murlo –
visitmurlo.it.