Tuscan parks: do not miss your chance!

October 27th 2011 by Katie
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The Tuscan Walking Festival - Final days


Parco della Maremma: Tuscan festivalParco della Maremma: Tuscan festivalCredits: Flickr



The Tuscan Walking Festival is a festival that is combined with various guided walks through the natural parks that are located on the coast and the islands of Tuscany. This festival begin in late May and continues through the summer months and ends on the 31st of October. The Walking Festival consists of 6 natural parks that are accompanied by hundreds of events and walks. These parks are ones that have been kept intact and are in the most gorgeous areas of Tuscany.



Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago Toscano is on 7 different islands. Elba, Gorgona, Capraia, Pianosa, Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri are between Corsica and Tuscany. These islands are mountainous, wild and full of vast wildlife. This park is surrounded by 60 thousand hectares of water and is Europe’s largest Marine Park that protects the dolphins and the whales of the Santuary of Sea Mammals.

Walking Festival, TuscanyWalking Festival, TuscanyCredits: Italy Holidays


The Park of Maremma is in the Province of Grosseto. It lies between the springs of the Ombrone River to Talamone along 25 km of the gorgeous Tuscan coast which rolls with hills that fall into the sea consisting of sandy beaches and cliffs, swamps, pine groves and cultivated fields. This park is open all year round and every day of the week. You must purchase a ticket before entering the park from the visiting centers in Alberese or Talamone. You may visit the park with or without a guide and you are able to pick up itineraries from the visiting centers to follow the paths in the park.

The Natural Park of Migliarino-San Rossore-Massciuccoli extends from the Provinces of Pisa, Lucca, Viareggio, San Giuliano Terme, Vecchiano and Massarosa, over 24,000 hectares. This area was once thriving with marshlands and lagoons but over time there has been debris brought by the Serchio River and the Arno River that has covered these places. There are wonderful beaches, woodlands with gorgeous pine groves, areas with holm oaks and mixed wooded areas. This park has a special interest with the habitat of the marshlands and the large variety of animals.

Valdicornia - Tuscn walking festivalValdicornia - Tuscn walking festivalCredits: Riscatta la vacanza


The Apuane Alps are mountains made from the sea;between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apennines:with breathtaking views of their marble exterior and amazing grottos. A great place for adventurists who enjoy to explore hidden places.

The Interprovincial Park of Montoni is taken care of by the Provinces of Livorno and Grosseto. It is a protected area of 7,000 hectars in a hill area consisting of the basins of the Cornia and the Pecora Rivers. An ideal habaitat for the wolf, the park holds still Medieval towers, castles, and paths that lead to ancient mines. This territory is rich with historical events dating back to proto-historic settlements and also Etruscans and Romans which consist of Medieval buildings such as la Pievaccia, the ruins of the Castle of Montioni Vecchio, the Spa of Montioni. A plethora of animals live in this area such as the deer and the wild boar. The paths that are available are either by foot, on mountain bike or horseback riding.

Tuscan walking festivalTuscan walking festivalCredits: Arpat Toscana


The Provincial Park of the Hills of Livorno is over 3,300 hectors of woodland in and around Livorno, Collesalvetti and Rosignano Marittimo. From bush scrub and rock to the sea and crystal clear streams. You can follow the paths by foot, on horseback or on mountain bike. An interesting site for study and observation of geomorpholocial and geological formations and of the wide range of wildlife present.

The Cornia Valley is the southern stretch of the Costa degli Etruschi, it is a piece of land that reaches into the sea and is opposite of Elba Island. Being inhabited in anicent times by the Etruscans, today this land is an amazing wealth of environmental and cultural riches. There are a group of park itineraries that give the visitors a taste of the sea and hills above. The parks are:

  • The Archaeological Park of Baratti and Populonia (Piombino)

  • The Archaeological Museum of the Territory of Populonia (Piombino)

  • The Piombino Castle and Town Museum (Piombino)

  • The Archaeological Mines Park of San Silvestro (Campiglia M.ma)

  • The Rocca of Campiglia Museum (Campiglia M.ma)

  • The Coastal Park of Sterpaia (Piombino)

  • The Coastal Park of Rimigliano (San Vincenzo)

  • Nature Reserve of Montioni (Suvereto)

  • Nature Reserve of Poggio Neri (Sassetta)


Tuscan walking festivalTuscan walking festivalCredits: Tuscany walking festival


The Parks and Museums are open all year round at pre-arranged times.

The Tuscan Walking Festival has only a few days left in which to visit these parks, as winter slowly rolls in. To find these parks, go to http://www.tuscanywalkingfestival.it/ and go under events and search from today’s date until the end of the month.

Enjoy the last few days of warmth during that day in Tuscany!


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Tuscan parks: do not miss your chance!