03 Siena to Camping Roma Flash at Lake Bracciano
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Nick Carthew - (MRA Master)
Last edit: 23-12-2020
Route Summary
Route 3 of 11 routes forming a tour down the west coast of Italy to Sicily. All routes link together.This is a gentle route that mainly uses the SR2 road that is for the most part, a rural road. The route travels through the beautiful Tuscan countryside and visits 3 giant volcanic lakes. The gentle and relaxed nature of this route along with the beautiful Tuscan landscape has earned 4**** stars.
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Verdict
Duration
4h 34m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
202.45 km
Countries
RP 24. Capodimonte.
RouteXpert Review
This route starts from Hotel Anna, just on the outskirts of Siena. Siena is possibly Italy's loveliest medieval city, and a trip worth making even if you are in Tuscany for just a few days. Siena's heart is it's central piazza known as Il Campo, known worldwide for the famous Palio held here. A horse race run around the piazza two times every summer. Movie audiences worldwide can see Siena and the Palio in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. The Palio is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, 10 horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen "contrade", or areas in which the city is divided. The race itself circles the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of earth has been laid. The race is run for three laps of the piazza and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds. It is common for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza, and indeed, it is not unusual to see riderless horses finishing the race.
Leaving Siena on the SR2 you will pass through the gentle rolling hills passing vineyards, olive groves and the ubiquitous Mediterranean (Pencil) Cypress that is synonymous with the Tuscan landscape.
At RP 11 you can visit the Museo della Mezzadria or Sharecrop Museum. A place where you can see explained the rural world that has characterized the Tuscan countryside, landscape and social life (until the '60s). Il Museo della Mezzadria is situated along the medieval walls of Buonconvento, in an ancient farm whose primary structure remains unchanged. Its collection tells about the mezzadria, a form of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crops produced on their portion of land (sharecrop).
The first of the 3 volcanic lakes that this route visits is Lago di Bolsena. Lake Bolsena is the largest lake in the region of northern Lazio, and is also the largest volcanic lake in all of Europe. It was formed about 370,000 years ago, when the multiple volcanoes of the region spewed forth so much that the underlying rock in the area of the lake, the caldera, collapsed into a deep bowl. This bowl was gradually filled by rain water and underwater sources. The volcanoes continued underwater, forming the two islands in the middle of the lake, L’Isola Bisentina and L’Isola Martana. The lake covers an area of 115 sq km (44 sq miles) and has a circumference of 43 km or 28 miles. It is a deep lake as well, reaching a maximum depth of 151 m or 500 feet. Unlike most lakes, Lake Bolsena displays tidelike movements, called “sessa” with the difference between low and high tides being as much as 50 cm or 20 inches.
Next comes a coffee stop in Montefiascone and then 45 minutes later, you'll be at the second and smallest of the volcanic lakes, Lago di Vico.
According to legend, one day Hercules stuck his cudgel into the ground and dared the local population to pull it out. Nobody succeeded and when Hercules removed it himself, a great jet of water came out of that hole and filled the entire valley, thus creating Lake Vico. The actual origin of the lake is linked to the activity of the Vico volcano: about 100.000 years ago it stopped erupting and – over time – its caldera got filled with water – both rain and water coming from the underground springs – and it eventually became the lake we now know. From the many viewpoints that you find along the road that winds around the old crater, you can still admire the original morphology of the Vico volcano, alternating green woods and plain valleys, now almost entirely dedicated to the cultivation of the famous hazelnuts of the Cimini Mountains.
From here, the third and final volcanic lake Lago di Bracciano is just 40 minutes away.
Largely considered to be one of Italy’s most important lakes, Lake Bracciano is also the second largest in the Lazio region after Lake Bolsena. The lake is kept calm and clean because it is protected, both as a part of the area’s national park and also because it is a water reservoir for Rome. The use of motorboats is strictly forbidden (exceptions being made for a few professional fisherman and the authorities), and a centralised sewer system has been built for all the bordering towns in order to avoid any spoiling of the water quality. This makes Bracciano one of the cleanest lakes of Italy.
I have suggested staying at Camping Roma Flash, a lakeside campsite that is well placed for exploring the area, there are cabins available for those that don't like canvas! The coast is just 30 minutes away or you can reach the Colosseum in Rome in a little over 1 hour. I would suggest 2 nights here, this will allow you to visit Rome, either by your own transport or by train from Bracciano just 4 km away. The average journey time by train between Bracciano and Rome is 1 hour and 9 minutes, with around 32 trains per day. A train ticket from Bracciano to Rome starts from 3€.
RP 4. Piazza del Campo, Siena. Where the Palio horse race takes place.
Lago di Vico from the air showing the volcanic crater.
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Tuscany
About this region
Tuscany ( TUSK-ə-nee; Italian: Toscana [tosˈkaːna]) is a region in central Italy with an area of about 23,000 square kilometres (8,900 square miles) and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (Firenze).
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its influence on high culture. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and has been home to many figures influential in the history of art and science, and contains well-known museums such as the Uffizi and the Palazzo Pitti. Tuscany is also known for its wines, including Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Brunello di Montalcino and white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Having a strong linguistic and cultural identity, it is sometimes considered "a nation within a nation".Tuscany is the second most popular Italian region for travellers in Italy, after Veneto. The main tourist spots are Florence, Pisa, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto and Siena. The town of Castiglione della Pescaia is the most visited seaside destination in the region, with seaside tourism accounting for approximately 40% of tourist arrivals. The Maremma region, Siena, Lucca, the Chianti region, Versilia and Val d'Orcia are also internationally renowned and particularly popular spots among travellers.
Eight Tuscan localities have been designated World Heritage Sites: the historic Centre of Florence (1982); the Cathedral square of Pisa (1987); the historical centre of San Gimignano (1990); the historical centre of Siena (1995); the historical centre of Pienza (1996); the Val d'Orcia (2004), the Medici Villas and Gardens (2013), and Montecatini Terme as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021). Tuscany has over 120 protected nature reserves, making Tuscany and its capital Florence popular tourist destinations that attract millions of tourists every year. In 2018, the city of Florence was the world's 51st most visited city, with over 5 million arrivals.
Read more on Wikipedia
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its influence on high culture. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and has been home to many figures influential in the history of art and science, and contains well-known museums such as the Uffizi and the Palazzo Pitti. Tuscany is also known for its wines, including Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Brunello di Montalcino and white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Having a strong linguistic and cultural identity, it is sometimes considered "a nation within a nation".Tuscany is the second most popular Italian region for travellers in Italy, after Veneto. The main tourist spots are Florence, Pisa, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto and Siena. The town of Castiglione della Pescaia is the most visited seaside destination in the region, with seaside tourism accounting for approximately 40% of tourist arrivals. The Maremma region, Siena, Lucca, the Chianti region, Versilia and Val d'Orcia are also internationally renowned and particularly popular spots among travellers.
Eight Tuscan localities have been designated World Heritage Sites: the historic Centre of Florence (1982); the Cathedral square of Pisa (1987); the historical centre of San Gimignano (1990); the historical centre of Siena (1995); the historical centre of Pienza (1996); the Val d'Orcia (2004), the Medici Villas and Gardens (2013), and Montecatini Terme as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021). Tuscany has over 120 protected nature reserves, making Tuscany and its capital Florence popular tourist destinations that attract millions of tourists every year. In 2018, the city of Florence was the world's 51st most visited city, with over 5 million arrivals.
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Route Collections in this region
An epic tour down the west coast of Italy to Sicily
This tour of 11 routes has been designed to take you to many of the well known sites in Italy, it even includes some lesser known sites that I think you'll enjoy too.
When they can, the routes will take you as close as you can get to the sites, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa just 100 m from where you park, or the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence where you'll pass right by the end of it and one route takes you as far as you can go up the active volcano Mount Etna.
I said this is a tour of 11 routes and not 11 days because I think you should stop an extra night at one or two places to really enjoy everything that Italy has to offer. For instance; an extra night at La Spezia gives you the opportunity to visit the famous chain of five picturesque seaside fishing villages known as the Cinque Terre. An extra night at the volcanic crater lake - Lake Bracciano, will allow you to take a short train ride into the city Rome to see all of her sights. I'd like an extra night at Salerno to ride the Amalfi Coast road again and another at Cefalu on the island of Sicily to enjoy the spectacular coastline.
What better way to discover amazing Italy than on a road tour? With 80% of world heritage sites, an Italian road tour surely promises an experience worth living!
From a motorcyclist’s point of view, Italy is among the best places in the world to ride. Twisty roads, close distances between sea, hills and mountains – you only need to ride a few miles and the landscape changes completely. Excellent food, good weather and reasonable costs make Italy an attractive touring place for bikers. Reasonably priced hotels and B&Bs; have been used with links to these on each route review.
Route highlights:
Route 1: The Italian Riviera and Portofino.
Route 2: Pisa, Florence and Siena.
Route 3. Volcanic crater lakes and the Tuscany landscape.
Route 4. Twisty roads through the foothills of the Lepini mountains.
Route 5. The Amalfi Coast road.
Route 6. The equally spectacular Cilento Coast road.
Route 7. Tropea and the Coast of Gods.
Route 8. Climbing Mount Etna and the incredibly twisty road to Cefalu.
Route 9. Twisty roads and The Valley of the Temples.
Route 10. The pure white cliffs of Scala dei Turchi and the Selinunte Temples.
Route 11. The salt pans of Trapani and the Grotta Mangiapane.
The tour ends in the ferry port of Palermo where you have a choice to either take to the road to head off of the island at Messina or hop on a ferry. Ferry destinations from Palermo include Genoa in northern Italy, the Italian island of Sardinia where you can tour the island and hop on another ferry to France, or even take a ferry to Tunisia in North Africa. The choice is yours. I hope you have enjoyed this tour.
When they can, the routes will take you as close as you can get to the sites, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa just 100 m from where you park, or the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence where you'll pass right by the end of it and one route takes you as far as you can go up the active volcano Mount Etna.
I said this is a tour of 11 routes and not 11 days because I think you should stop an extra night at one or two places to really enjoy everything that Italy has to offer. For instance; an extra night at La Spezia gives you the opportunity to visit the famous chain of five picturesque seaside fishing villages known as the Cinque Terre. An extra night at the volcanic crater lake - Lake Bracciano, will allow you to take a short train ride into the city Rome to see all of her sights. I'd like an extra night at Salerno to ride the Amalfi Coast road again and another at Cefalu on the island of Sicily to enjoy the spectacular coastline.
What better way to discover amazing Italy than on a road tour? With 80% of world heritage sites, an Italian road tour surely promises an experience worth living!
From a motorcyclist’s point of view, Italy is among the best places in the world to ride. Twisty roads, close distances between sea, hills and mountains – you only need to ride a few miles and the landscape changes completely. Excellent food, good weather and reasonable costs make Italy an attractive touring place for bikers. Reasonably priced hotels and B&Bs; have been used with links to these on each route review.
Route highlights:
Route 1: The Italian Riviera and Portofino.
Route 2: Pisa, Florence and Siena.
Route 3. Volcanic crater lakes and the Tuscany landscape.
Route 4. Twisty roads through the foothills of the Lepini mountains.
Route 5. The Amalfi Coast road.
Route 6. The equally spectacular Cilento Coast road.
Route 7. Tropea and the Coast of Gods.
Route 8. Climbing Mount Etna and the incredibly twisty road to Cefalu.
Route 9. Twisty roads and The Valley of the Temples.
Route 10. The pure white cliffs of Scala dei Turchi and the Selinunte Temples.
Route 11. The salt pans of Trapani and the Grotta Mangiapane.
The tour ends in the ferry port of Palermo where you have a choice to either take to the road to head off of the island at Messina or hop on a ferry. Ferry destinations from Palermo include Genoa in northern Italy, the Italian island of Sardinia where you can tour the island and hop on another ferry to France, or even take a ferry to Tunisia in North Africa. The choice is yours. I hope you have enjoyed this tour.
View Route Collection
11 Routes
2565.1 km
58h 23m
The 10 most downloaded routes in Italy from RouteExpert Catherine De Groote
Hello and welcome to this collection of the Top 10 MyRoute app downloaded routes in Italy.
A great new event will be announced soon, where all of these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as they will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your email.
The 10 routes are:
1. Round trip from Montespertoli to the Chianti region
2. Round trip from Montespertoli to San Gimignano
3. Round trip from Montespertoli to Volpaia and the Chianti region
4. Round trip from Montespertoli to the Pistoia region
5. Round trip from Montespertoli to the Devil's Valley
6. Tour of Montespertoli with a visit to Siena
7. Tour of Montespertoli with visit to Pisa
8. Round trip from Montespertoli to the south of the province of Siena
9. Tour of Montespertoli with a visit to Firenze
10. Round trip from Montespertoli to Volterra
A great new event will be announced soon, where all of these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as they will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your email.
The 10 routes are:
1. Round trip from Montespertoli to the Chianti region
2. Round trip from Montespertoli to San Gimignano
3. Round trip from Montespertoli to Volpaia and the Chianti region
4. Round trip from Montespertoli to the Pistoia region
5. Round trip from Montespertoli to the Devil's Valley
6. Tour of Montespertoli with a visit to Siena
7. Tour of Montespertoli with visit to Pisa
8. Round trip from Montespertoli to the south of the province of Siena
9. Tour of Montespertoli with a visit to Firenze
10. Round trip from Montespertoli to Volterra
View Route Collection
10 Routes
1623.85 km
78h 37m