The Pineta del Tombolo begins immediately to the south-west of the village: from our flats in Via di Mezzo 2 it takes only 6.5 km (10 min by car, 25 min by bike along the Bruna cycle path) to enter the first opening in the pine forest, at Lido di Castiglione, and follow the entire green corridor to Marina di Grosseto. The Pineta del Tombolo is a 15 km corridor separating the Tyrrhenian Sea from the Diaccia Botrona, scented with resin and populated by stone pine and maritime pine: centuries-old trees that protect the dunes and provide habitats for jays, woodpeckers and, with a bit of luck, the sea jay.
What to do along the way
- Paved cycle path: connects Castiglione to Marina di Grosseto, perfect for jogging, e-bikes and skating.What to do along the route
- Equipped picnic areas: wooden tables nestled in the pine forest for picnic lunches of sciapo bread and Tuscan ham.
- Vita Trail: 20 stages with natural wooden equipment for stretching exercises and balance boards.
Spring brings the blossoming of cysts and broom; in autumn the ground is covered with pine cones that you can take home as fragrant souvenirs.
Tips
Bring binoculars to spot squirrels, foxes and porcupines at dusk; in the hot hours take advantage of the dense shade for a siesta in a hammock. If you’re looking for the sea, simply detour to one of the numbered access points: in less than 200 m you will reach free golden beaches, often semi-deserted even in high season. On the way back, stop at the “Tombolino” kiosk for a lemon granita or a crushed oil.
