The local open area is ideal for nature lovers, sports enthusiasts and people in awe of rare natural beauty, history and culture - like us!
Open to the public, the Parco Benestare lies within the territories of Gambassi Terme and Montaione, there are unique features within the park to visit by foot, cycle and even on horseback! The concept of the park is to feel free and enjoy the nature, culture and history of these local zones of Tuscany.
One of the rare features of the park include geysers (hot springs) situated in the fascinating (and truffle rich!!) forests of Gambassi; only a 15 minute stroll away from our farm! You can get there via the forest footpath trails, or even walking along the stream bed bordering our property. When we first visited the nearby geyser, we were astounded by the bubbling thermal streams along the way (note to self: take shoes with better grip next time as crossing the small streams can be slippery!).
We knew that we were near the geysers due to the strong smell of sulphur, our neighbours had later on told us that inhaling this natural smell opens up your airways and can be beneficial for hair, skin, nails and connective tissue growth. To our surprise, we discovered that the water from the geysers rests at 23°C all year round!
Another feature is the ‘broken through wells’ or ‘pozzo sfondato’ (as named by the locals) on the River L’Evola located in the alluring woods of Montaione, only 10 minutes by foot from the centre of Montaione.
Mysteriously, they never fill up like dams with the pouring rains yet neither have underground exits, solely large pots between tall masses of rock. It is named ‘the pothole of the giants’ due to its grand size.
Upon arrival we found many locals swimming in the pond like pot. We weren’t expecting a swim so we decided to sit on the old rocks, absorb the natural beauty and relax! It is a popular location to visit during all seasons, we are looking forward to visiting again, next time using the mountain bike routes and with our swimming trunks!
12km away from our farm, in Montaione, the Convent of San Vivaldo, also named ‘Jerusalem of San Vivaldo’ can be found, an enchanting spiritual place that left us impressed by the grace of monasteries and chapels dated back to the 14th century, its main purpose was to provide local people the option of performing a pilgrimage without having to travel to Jerusalem.
Other particular characteristics of the Parco Benestare in which we were amazed by include ancient remains of castles, towers and churches from the 11th-18th century. One of the most relaxing and popular sites is the Sanctuary of the Pietrina where lie the remains of a castel, under which can be found a long perpendicular rocky ridge where people can abseil.
Visiting the Pietrina was a very tranquil experience for us as we stared in admiration over the hills and valleys of Tuscany from the top of the Sanctuary, we were able to see Volterra from this spectacular viewing spot. San Vivaldo and the Sanctuary of the Petrina can be traveled to by car, cycling or on a horseback excursion.
We recommend taking a visit to the Parco Benestare and its many features; whether you want to go on an excursion, see the authentic culture and history of Tuscany or simply relax over the stunning views of the Tuscan countryside, all places in the park are within 20km from our farm La Torre!
