The project for the redevelopment of Castiglione’s footpaths or bridleways [‘sentieri’] has begun in the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia. Companies, associations, the local administration and the Maremma Experience Tourist Consortium are all involved.
In the hinterland of Castiglione della Pescaia ancient footpaths and mule tracks are at the centre of an important redevelopment initiative. The goal is to make the ‘Castiglionesi Trails’ safer and offer greater convenience and services to lovers of cycle touring. The municipal administration which has believed and invested in the bike sector for years, the Maremma Experience Consortium with its allied Bike professionals (Easy Bike Maremma, Hakuna Matata, ASD Punta Ala trail centre, Bagnoli Bike, Saletti Bici, Maremma Freeride) and the Associazione Albero delle Idee are all committed to the project.
“The Castiglionesi Trails are about 100 kilometres of paths in the depths of nature that connect the coastal area with the Castiglionese hinterland ̶ explains Enzo Riemma, president of the Maremma Experience Consortium ̶ making use of bike professionals, our associates, and folk from the Associazione Albero delle Idee who have been engaged in these activities since since 2013 in collaboration with the municipal administration we believe we can make these routes more usable for cycling tourism lovers.”
The project, which for the first time sees different local businesses and organisations collaborate in synergy with the municipal administration, began in the course of 2021 thanks to funds received from the Rural Development Plan.
There are many initiatives in the pipeline that will integrate the work carried out to date and bring in numerous innovations and, finally, will consolidate the relationships between the various projects.
The major interventions expected concern the creation of new signs, including for agriturismi [farmhouse holiday venues], environmental restoration, the hydraulic regulation of the paths and, finally, the installation of electric columns for e-bikes and facilities for bicycle maintenance.
“Changes to the routes are planned ̶ Riemma goes on ̶ and all the planned works will enhance the natural environment ensuring proper landscape integration and greater environmental compatibility; pedal away and experience beautiful local days out.”
Sustainable tourism and low-impact transportation are two aspects that thanks to this project will go hand in hand. To increase convenience and services for cyclists stands will be installed in both Castiglione and the outlying hamlets of the Municipality equipped with tools for simple repairs and a manual pump with a built-in pressure gauge. In addition, there will also be equipment for recharging electric bikes and a new map of the trails.
“Keeping the paths that cross our Municipality useable ̶ concludes Riemma ̶ means we have a means of triggering virtuous processes that will enhance our locality. We are working to involve hosts with hospitality policies for bicycle tourists. The goal is to make Castiglione della Pescaia ‘a bike destination’, where cyclists and mountain bikers can rediscover the pleasure of travelling by bike and get to know an area very rich in nature, culture, traditions and history. A two wheels friendly zone.
www.turismocastiglionedellapescaia.it/sentieri-castiglionesi/