Today we decided that to visit Arcidosso as cyclists you have to climb Monte Amiata from Castel del Piano so off we went this morning and climbed 800m in 9km in the shade and froze our buts coming down the other side! No views because it was all forest but we did see the turn off to the chairlift to the top of the skihill which we declined. Capaccuno in Faggia Bagnolo did the trick and we were off to Castell Azzara on really quiet roads where we got the views we lack earlier! Very nice town and had a great lunch in a sunny square and continued around Monte Elmo (not pronounced as you would first think!). This route was again very quiet with 270deg views east south and west. Finished the day with a rough decent to the river Friora and then a pleasant climb up to the pretty town of Santa Fiona. The final decent to Arcidosso was a hoot with the cars hanging back as we raced down the switchbacks on smooth road to the central square!
