FTEM #3: The White River and the Bellafreddi Trail

Compositions

Here is another point of interest for the First Maremme Cross-Border Hiking Festival, in Rocchette di Fazio, Southern Tuscany (June 14-15 2025). The huge, quasi albino, limestone boulders, which many geological eras ago once were at the bottom of an ocean, today are skteching the awesome canyons, caves and gorges characterizing the course of the upper Albegna valley. The “white river” was an important communication route in Etruscan times, and -across the centuries- it reinforced its role as a setting for trades, such as for salt, which from the saltworks in Orbetello reached the inland of Maremma.

Bellafreddi was a templar knight who used to cross the white river to reach his loved one on the other bank, and his trail can be followed by today’s intrepid hikers from the village of Rocchette di Fazio to the river gorges.

For more information on the festival:

The festival comes from an idea by Irene Pellegrini –travel and migration sociologist, hiking guide, and writer- who also acts as the festival director. The event is supported by municipality of Semproniano, the social promotion association La Piazzoletta, Sentieri Liberi – Murci and by the pibinko.org network.

Photo credits: Sentieri Liberi Murci

Per altre informazioni sul festival:

Il FTEM nasce da un’idea di Irene Pellegrini –sociologa del viaggio e della migrazione, guida escursionistica e scrittrice- che ne cura anche la direzione, ed è sostenuto dal Comune di Semproniano, dall’associazione di promozione sociale La Piazzoletta, da Sentieri Liberi – Murci e dalla rete pibinko.org.

Foto: Sentieri Liberi – Murci