Mediterrean Tuscany- On the trails of the poet

Excursions

1) Castagneto Carducci – by bycicle
Length: 37 km - Gradient: negligible - Time: 2 - 2.30 hours
Note: the trail is very attractive and easy, and does not demand any special training
We start off from San Giusto nearby the hotel-restaurant "Zì Martino", taking Via Bolgherese in the direction of Bolgheri. After about 1 km we turn right, following the signs for the Le Pianacce campsite; arriving at a crucifix we turn left on the Lamentano road; after 2 km, before the unmade road, we turn left again onto the Via Bolgherese following it till it joins the cypress avenue, where we turn left descending towards San Guido(3.4 km). Having reached the Aurelia State Road no. 1, we turn right, and after a couple of kilometres turn right again towards Bibbona (5.1 km). From here we continue towards Bolgheri and the cypress avenue. After a visit to the village we descend along the avenue to reach the junction on the left for Castagneto Carducci where we take Via Bolgherese again back to the starting-point.

2) The Rifugio Palustre di Bolgheri is a protected natural oasis set up in 1962 on the initiative of the owner, Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta: it is made up of approximately 600 hectares of marshland which can be visited from November to April on Tuesdays, Fridays and the third Saturday of every month.
In the winter period it is a veritable paradise for thousands of birds: nesting here, we can find the black-winged stilt, the little grebe, the purple heron, the mallard and the coot, while it is a stopping-place for migratory birds such as snipe, white egrets, lapwings, black storks and others. Visits must be booked at the Donoratico Police Station (Comando dei Vigili Urbani) (0565/777125).

3) Marina di Castagneto Carducci - Donoratico. A really nice walk (3 km round trip) along the beach from the ancient Forte di Castagneto to the Villas Emilia and Margherita, set in a magnificent position 20 metres from the sea.