Monte Antico between the Ombrone Valley and local history

Monte Antico is a place that combines a historic town structure with paths into the surrounding landscape. At its heart is Monte Antico railway station: the Ferrovia della Val d’Orcia is 51.2 km long and connects Asciano with Monte Antico. The station is also located on the long-distance Bicitalia 18 route. The historic centre complements the connection with the landscape through streets, small squares and Castello di Monte Antico. As a result, the railway, cycling, riverbank and local history come together at a clearly defined starting point.

Railway line and cycling tours

The Civitella Paganico–Strada Leopoldina cycling tour reaches Monte Antico railway station. For travellers arriving by train from Siena, the station can be a starting point for the cycling tour. The combination of the railway line and cycle route makes the station an important point of reference for an active day. The Ferrovia della Val d’Orcia places the connection between Asciano and Monte Antico at the centre, while the cycling tour situates the town within the landscape of the Ombrone Valley.

After the station, the Civitella Paganico–Strada Leopoldina cycling tour repeatedly offers views of the Ombrone Valley. Here, the impression of the landscape develops along the rest of the route and not only in the town centre. For orientation, this view of the valley differs from the course of the hiking trail along the riverbank: the cycle route repeatedly opens up views of the landscape, while the Anello di Monte Antico follows the Ombrone directly.

On foot along the Ombrone

The Anello di Monte Antico hiking trail begins at Monte Antico railway station and follows the bank of the Ombrone River for a distance of around two kilometres. Those who want to experience the Ombrone on foot therefore remain on a clearly described section of the river. The station marks the beginning of the trail, while the river provides its landscape theme. The Anello thus offers a different way of experiencing the area from the cycling tour: here, walking along the riverbank is the focus, while there the repeated views of the Ombrone Valley after the station take centre stage.

Historic centre and Castello di Monte Antico

The town’s history also gives Monte Antico its own distinctive character. With its streets and small squares, the historic centre is considered an open-air museum. Castello di Monte Antico was built around the year 1000 as a possession of the Ardengheschi family. The church of San Tommaso is located in the Monte Antico area, near the ancient medieval castle. In addition, Castello di Monte Antico dominates the Ombrone Valley from its position. This means that the town structure, castle, church and landscape do not stand independently alongside one another: the valley is both part of the paths along the river and part of the view from the castle.

For your trip, you can consider Monte Antico according to the focus you prefer. If the railway and cycling are the main focus, the Ferrovia della Val d’Orcia, the railway station, the long-distance Bicitalia 18 route and the Civitella Paganico–Strada Leopoldina cycling tour are the most important points of reference. If you want to experience the Ombrone on foot, the approximately two-kilometre-long Anello di Monte Antico, with its route along the riverbank, is part of the experience. If you are more interested in culture, the streets and small squares of the historic centre, Castello di Monte Antico and the church of San Tommaso lead to the town’s various historical facets.

For more ideas in the area, you can also visit [Casale Di Pari](Casale Di Pari), [Pari](Pari) and [Paganico](Paganico)

For the higher-level travel overview: Civitella-Paganico.