Summit of Mount Amiata

While the summit of Monte Amiata is extremely popular in winter among novice skiers, it is always beautiful as a vantage point with a strangely Alpine feel. Monte Amiata is 1,738 meters high and is the highest mountain in the Maremma. At its peak there is a monumental iron cross, 22 meters high, designed by Sienese workers and brought up the mountain on the back of a mule at the beginning of the 20th century. It is one of Maremma’s most striking modern works of art, a testament to the devotion of the locals. In June 2017, the cross was illuminated with 30,000 LED lights, so it is now visible from 70 kilometers away.
In winter, the cross and summit of Monte Amiata are part of the ski area, so be prepared to pay. You’d be better off visiting in the off season when you can leisurely walk to the cross day or night for free or pay a small fee to ride the ski lift if it works. The walk is 15-20 minutes uphill and the tracks are riddled with rocks, so wear comfortable shoes. If you visit at night, bring a flashlight as everything is pitch black. There is a cafe where you can relax/recuperate at the base of the trail and a few hotels that are open part of the year.
The panorama from the summit embraces Bolsena and Lake Trasimeno, some islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, Maremma, the Metalliferous Hills and Chianti, but also Umbria, Sabina and, when the weather is fine, Rome.