Hermitages and Castles – Itinerary

From Porta di Fontebranda, we go slightly downhill until we reach Strada di Pescaia, a fast-flowing road, not really suitable for cyclists, which we follow, uphill, for about a kilometer and then take, on the left and again in uphill, Via di Collinella and Strada dei Cappuccini. At Palazzo Diavoli, we take the route that leaves Siena and continues to Florence.

The Strada di Petriccio e Belriguardo, which we intercept on the left shortly after Braccio, is a continuous alternation of ups and downs until you reach Pian del Lago.

To reach the Hermitage of Lecceto you need to deviate from the SP 101 of Montemaggio and cycle along a dirt road of just one kilometer with a marked slope (signposted Lecceto).

After Lecceto we continue towards the Hermitage of San Leonardo al Lago which can be reached by going back along the dirt road we already know (a shorter alternative is also possible but with a very rough surface, all inside the woods) and, once on the asphalt , go left for about two kilometers and then left again. The road  proceeds downhill to the height of the Osteriaccia.

From here you begin two paths that go into the woods: one, on the right just before a building, indicated by a sign “Via Francigena”, leads to the Pyramid and the Canale del Granducal; the other, at the fountain, on the left of the Osteriaccia, leads to the Hermitage along a path.

From San Leonardo al Lago, along a downhill dirt road we arrive on the SP di Montemaggio (turn left) and then on the asphalted road where we follow the signs for Celsa. A short climb and then, at the first deviation on the right, we bike along a dirt road that in less than a kilometer leads us to Santa Colomba.

To get to Siena we have to go down towards Pian del Lago, cycle for about three kilometers: on your left, you can see the Castello della Chiocciola and then follow the signs for the city.

The Route

  • Length: 34,2 km
  • Altimeters: +/- 785 m
  • Slope maximum: 14,6%
  • Type of road surface: mixed (asphalt, dirt road)
  • Type of bike recommended: touring – gravel – MTB