TheBarberino Ring is a hike that gives the opportunity to discover a varied piece of Tuscany in a single day: from rolling vine-covered hills to oak forests along the disputed border between Florence and Siena.
You cross streams, immersed in the glimpses of an ancient sharecropping landscape and can admire the Castle of Tignano, the oldest fortified village in Chianti. Then it’s up an unexpected wilderness valley to the town of Barberino, a medieval jewel tapering off the Roman road Regia, an ancient communication and pilgrimage route between the two republics of Florence and Siena, where you can indulge in a glass of excellent wine.
In fact, we are in the Chianti DOCG production area, on whose hills there are sweeping views along the first part of the route. The wilder and more rural central part sees wooded parts alternating with agro-silvo-pastoral views. In addition to the presence of ungulates (wild boar and deer), reptiles and birds of prey can be spotted in open areas.

Technical description:
From the parking lot, go down Cassia and continue until you take Via di Novoli to the left. Traveled all the way, when the road turns left, continue straight in the dirt road and meet the first ford. If there is too much water, 20 meters to the left is a small bridge. After the ford, go slightly uphill to the left through a forested forest. After finishing the climb, continue to the left along the vineyards on the Strada della Torre.
At the junction with the bridge over the Florence-Siena highway, turn left downhill to Strada della Chiara. At La Torraccia farm, cross the fallow and continue along the gully to the second ford, then climb left up to Tignano. At Black Castle, the route proceeds downhill on the left, and after the ford, it goes straight up to the road that leads back to the starting point.

Route type: loop
Length: 13 km
Uphill elevation gain: 490 m
Downhill elevation gain: 490 m
Highest point: 381 m
Lowest point: 206 m

Technical tips:
Essential hiking shoes, possibly waterproof, long pants even in summer.
The route has no major technical difficulties, but has three short stream fords, the second slightly technical on slippery rock in case of abundant water. Also important to have good orientation skills and map/GPS device reading as there is no signage. Beware of hives! Water fountains at the parking lot and in Tignano.

Municipality of departure: Barberino Val d’Elsa
Place of departure: Barberino Val d’Elsa
Municipality of arrival: Barberino Val d’Elsa
Place of arrival: Barberino Val d’Elsa

Recommended period:
all year round Ideal spring and early fall. Pay attention to the weather between autumn and winter. In case of heavy rains in the previous days, the second ford could be problematic.

Where to park:
Parking lot on U.Foscolo Street in Barberino, near the sports field.