Discover Giuncarico: History, the Maremma and Cycling Tours

Giuncarico combines a fortified center with religious buildings and the Giuncarico Trails network. Its hilltop location opens up views over the Tuscan Maremma.

History and Churches in the Town

Giuncarico has been documented since 772. In the 11th century, the town was mentioned as a fortified Curtis belonging to the Abbey of Sestinga. Visitors interested in culture will find a clear connection here to the town’s early history.

The eastern gate of the fortified center is dominated by the bell tower of the Chiesa di Sant’Egidio. The church contains an 18th-century painting of the Madonna del Rosario with the Child, Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine.

The Sant’Egidio festival takes place on the first Sunday in September. The date links the name of the church with a fixed date in the local calendar.

The Chiesa del Santissimo Crocifisso is a 19th-century church located away from and above Giuncarico’s historic center. It is thought to have been built on the site of the former 17th-century Oratorio di San Bernardino. The two churches in the town therefore create different spatial focal points.

The exhibition “Gli Etruschi e il Vino a Rocca di Frassinello” is housed in the Rocca di Frassinello winery. It complements the references to church history with another cultural topic.

Cycling Tours, Trails and Regional Products

The Giuncarico Trails network starts in Giuncarico and can be used on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. These three modes of transport allow for different ways of using the same network of trails.

The 25-kilometer Maremma History cycling tour by Giuncarico Trails includes tastings of local products and DOC Monteregio wine. The route thus combines cycling with a culinary component.

The 27-kilometer U.I.S.P. mountain bike stage starts at Piazza del Popolo in Giuncarico and runs mainly along country roads, forest tracks and singletrack trails. The same stage therefore features three different types of surface.

For day planning, the U.I.S.P. stage is two kilometers longer than the 25-kilometer tour; it also specifies the changes between country roads, forest tracks and singletrack trails. The start at Piazza del Popolo identifies the specific starting point in Giuncarico.

Hilltop Location and Nearby Destinations

From its hilltop location, Giuncarico offers wide views over the Tuscan Maremma. The landscape perspective is a separate aspect alongside the town’s history and routes.

The surrounding area of Giuncarico also includes Monte d'Alma, Monte di Stella and the summit of Monte di Muro. These three elevations are therefore part of the town’s scenic surroundings.

The ruins of the Abbazia di San Bartolomeo a Sestinga are located in the immediate vicinity of Giuncarico. Castello Di Montemassi and Rocca Pisana are located in the surrounding area. These destinations add abbey ruins and fortified buildings to the local surroundings.

The wider regional area includes the ancient site of Rovine di Roselle and the Zoo Aquarium Mondo Marino. Both destinations are therefore part of a broader regional setting.

For more places to include in your travel plans, also see Bagno Di Gavorrano, Bivio Di Ravi, Caldana and Ravi.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gavorrano.