Monte Amiata day trip from Siena or Montepulciano or Grosseto
A day trip to Monte Amiata from Siena, Montepulciano or Grosseto: the warm white pools of Bagni San Filippo on the way in, the summit cross with views over southern Tuscany, the spring-fed Peschiera and the della Robbia pieve of Santa Fiora, the castle of Piancastagnaio, then the abbey of San Salvatore with its Lombard crypt in Abbadia San Salvatore. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Monte Amiata in 1 day
Day 1
Bagni San Filippo hot springs (Fosso Bianco)
Free hot springs in a wooded gully off the Via Cassia, where warm water runs over white travertine falls; the Balena Bianca is the best known.
Monte Amiata summit (iron cross and views)
Top of the extinct volcano at over 1,700 metres, marked by a tall iron cross, with views from the Apennines to the sea on clear days.
Peschiera of Santa Fiora (spring and fish pond)
Spring-fed pond in a garden laid out by the Sforza counts, where the Fiora river rises below Santa Fiora's houses.
Pieve of Sante Flora e Lucilla (della Robbia works)
Romanesque parish church of Santa Fiora, known for its glazed terracottas by Andrea della Robbia, among the finest outside Florence.
Historic centre of Santa Fiora (Piazza Garibaldi)
Stone village on a spur of Monte Amiata, once ruled by the Aldobrandeschi and the Sforza, with the Sforza palace on Piazza Garibaldi.
Rocca Aldobrandesca of Piancastagnaio
Aldobrandeschi fortress at the entrance to Piancastagnaio, a chestnut village on the slopes, with towers and views over the Paglia valley.
Abbey of San Salvatore (Lombard crypt)
Benedictine abbey founded in the 8th century, with a crypt of many carved columns, and long the home of the Codex Amiatinus Bible.
Historic centre of Abbadia San Salvatore (Piazza XX Settembre)
Medieval stone quarter of the old mining town, with narrow lanes and arches, lit by huge torches for the Christmas Eve Fiaccole.
Watch: Monte Amiata
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is needed: from Montepulciano it is about 50 minutes, and from Siena about 1 hour 15 down the Via Cassia, passing Bagni San Filippo. From Grosseto it is about an hour inland. Buses link the mountain villages but are infrequent.
Staying in Siena or Montepulciano or Grosseto? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Monte Amiata
Summer is the favourite season here, cool in the beech forests while the valleys below are hot; autumn brings chestnuts, mushrooms and village festivals, especially in October. Winter brings snow and skiing on the summit, and on Christmas Eve Abbadia San Salvatore lights huge bonfire torches, the Fiaccole.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Monte Amiata on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Monte Amiata on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Monte Amiata on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Monte Amiata
- The summit road can need snow chains in winter, when Monte Amiata is a ski area; in summer the mountain is a cool escape from the Val d'Orcia heat.
- Bring a swimsuit and an old towel for Bagni San Filippo: the warm pools of the Fosso Bianco are free and open, and the sulphur water can stain.
- Amiata chestnuts are famous; in October the villages hold chestnut festivals, and Piancastagnaio's is one of the best known.
- Abbadia San Salvatore was a mercury-mining town; its mining museum tells the story of the cinnabar mines that shaped the mountain.
- The summit is over 1,700 metres high, so bring a jacket, and plan lunch at one of the mountain refuges near the top.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Abbey of San Salvatore (Lombard crypt): Kweedado2, Public domain
- Bagni San Filippo hot springs (Fosso Bianco): Stefano Stabile, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Abbadia San Salvatore (Piazza XX Settembre): Albarubescens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Santa Fiora (Piazza Garibaldi): Mattana, Public domain
- Monte Amiata summit (iron cross and views): Zyance, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Peschiera of Santa Fiora (spring and fish pond): Termauri, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pieve of Sante Flora e Lucilla (della Robbia works): 8888jazz, Public domain
- Rocca Aldobrandesca of Piancastagnaio: No machine-readable author provided. Beatrice assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
