The Heat of the Heart Tuscan mining UNESCO Global Geopark

Colline Metallifere National Park | ITALY | 4 DAYS

What TO expect

Delve into the ancient architecture and medieval art of this Geological Mining and Industrial Archaeology Park and stand in awe of the extraordinary scenery formed by geologic phenomena. And discover the heat of the earth in this underground world filled with natural and cultural heritage.

  • Explore Massa Marittima, the gem of the Middle Ages.

  • Enjoy a guided donkey trek to the highest peak in the territory and observe plants and wild animals such as wild boar in their natural habitats along the way.

  • Go beer tasting at Vapori di Birra, a sustainable brewery.

  • Cook Tortelli, a traditional Tuscan Pasta, with Salvatore and Patrizia at the Trattoria il Mutino.

What travellers say about the experience

“I discovered this special corner of Tuscany and can’t wait to go back to see more. The combination of food, nature and people found here made it one of the best vacation destinations for those looking for an authentic experience rich in history, traditional foods and deep local cultural that will leave you forever wanting to come back! The human component is arguably the most important of a tourism experience. The authentic, warm, hospitable, professional, knowledgeable, kind, caring staff involved in the tour made the overall impact of this component one of the highlights of the overall experience!”
— Daniel Dozier
“The experience was extremely memorable. I felt, after only three days, t hat I had a real sense of the flavor of this region, the story of the park, and the heart of these people and communities. I was amazed by the passion of local people, and came away with new life-long fried.s Food was a real highlight, and especially loved the 0KM dinner and the opportunity to meet chefs, farmers, etc., who shared their stories and their souls. This was perfect.”
— Jeremy Sampson
“We are accustomed to conceiving Tuscany as a territory to live with a glass of wine in hand and look at the hills in a precious moment of relaxation. Tuscany is not just this, it is also venturing into the woods riding an ebike to reach a beach, travelling in the womb of the Earth to discover the history of the men who explored it, eating the foods they ate, discovering their preparation and origin of individual local products. An unforgettable experience in Maremma, a dreamy place to discover.”
— Fabrizio Marra

sustainability

  • This itinerary has an ecological footprint of around 0.0125 gha per tourist per day, which is lower than the MEET average. Although the main driver for the ecological footprint of the package is the food and drinks, the avoidance of single-use plastics, the choice of local service providers, the use of more fruits and vegetables, and the reduced amount of food are some of the good practices that were implemented for the sustainability of the tour.

  • Visitors can enjoy a guided hike to the Cornate mountain pick, the highest in the National Park territory. Along the way, they will discover some of the endemic plants and wild animals, such as foxes, badgers or row deers. Besides, to compensate for the GHG emissions produced during the tour, a tree will be planted!

  • Travellers will enjoy a beer tasting at a unique sustainable brewery in the world, which uses electrical and thermal energy produced only from geothermal and sustainable sources!