32. The Tour of Monte Argentario - 46.3 km
Punto di partenza e arrivo: Orbetello
Distanza: 46.3 km
Dislivello: 450 m
Tipo di strada: misto (asfalto + sterrato)
Bicicletta: tuttoterreno e MTB
Difficoltà: impegnativo
NOTES: A very scenic itinerary cycling through one of the most beautiful coast stretches of the whole Tyrrhenian seashore. The Silver Coast includes the territories of Monte Argentario (villages of Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano), Orbetello, Magliano in Toscana, Capalbio and the Islands of Giglio and Giannutri.As far as the altitude
is concerned it requires a certain exertion because of its continual ups and downs bar the first 7 and the last 10 kilometres. However short a few stretches are very steep and a stretch of about 3.5 kilometres on a dirt track is very damaged requiring the use of all-terrain or MTB bikes.
The nearly total lack of traffic between Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano and the extraordinary natural setting with a nonstop view of the sea make this itinerary one of the most interesting destinations for bikers and cycling excursionists.
The square Mario Cortesini in Orbetello is the starting point of the itinerary. Following the road signs to Monte Argentario and Porto Ercole one pedals on the cycling lane following the provincial road S.P. 161 right in the middle of the Orbetello lagoon. After 2 kilometres one turns left in the direction of Porto Ercole and Cala Galera taking the S.P. 2 of Porto Ercole. Past the crossroads to Cala Galera and a short slope one reaches Porto Ercole (6.2) with its little harbour.
The road passes by the gate to the old town and with a spurt uphill the S.P. 66 “Panoramica Porto Ercole” leaves the urban area plunging into the lush green of pines and maquis. The view it offers onto the coast and the Isolotto is beautiful. The road climbs gently for 4 kilometres to clear the hill (10.5) plunging down a very steep slope. In front of the barrier of the old road (barred because of landslides) a few hundred metres afterwards one continues to cycle downhill as far as a crossroads keeping to the right towards the parking lot. Cleared a short stretch of dirt track one cycles up a steep tarred ramp for 500 metres returning onto dirt track which climbs less steeply clearing the hill (11.9). One starts cycling downhill bypassing the Punta Avvoltore. After a short while one starts climbing uphill on a large but damaged road. At this point of the itinerary the view is superb showing the coast between Punta Avvoltore and Punta di Torre Ciana. After about 1.5 kilometres uphill one clears the hill once more near a crossing from where one cycles straight on downhill on a damaged stretch. At the next crossing (14.4) one continues straight on returning onto a tarred road: the itinerary continues downhill for 2.8 kilometres and then the road dives into a very thick maquis full of strawberry and mastic trees. Then the view opens onto the coast with the Torre delle Cannelle and the Isola Rossa while one cycles gently uphill. At this point the road turns decidedly towards the inland to return then to the coast overlooking the craggy cliffs of the seashore and the Torre delle Cannelle, as well as the Torre Ciana farther away. Bypassing the headland from which the Isola Rossa and the wide Cala dell’Olio (21.5) can be seen the road turns decidedly towards the inland with a very exacting stretch of over 1 kilometre, marked by steep and narrow hairpin bends. One then continues on a, good to cycle on, upward slope that seconds the altitude curve with a few spurts. The environment becomes less wild and the maquis gives way to olive groves and drystone walls.
One continues uphill for about 2 kilometres as far as the area overlooking Capo d’Uomo (24.8) and clearing the hill to then cycle downhill for 1 kilometre as far as a crossroads (25.8) where one turns left following the road sign to the S.P. 65 “Panoramica” (continuing straight downhill one swiftly reaches Porto Santo Stefano). The long and very pleasant descent on a smooth tarred road offers a beutiful view of the coast with the Cala del Bove and the Isolotto di Argentarola and further of Cala Grande. On reaching Porto Santo Stefano one cycles as far as the roundabout (36.3) from where one continues in the direction of Porto Ercole and Orbetello on the S.P. 161 of “Porto Santo Stefano”. A short spurt uphill and then downhill towards the seashore. Past the locality Pozzarello (37.8) one cycles on without any difficulty as far as Orbetello (45.5) along the last 2 kilometres on the cycling lane in the heart of the lagoon already covered at the beginning. The itinerary ends in Piazza Mario Cortesini (46.3) where it started. [1]
