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

FTEM #2 Erster Gast: Damiano Fabbri (Verein zur sozialen Förderung Freedom)

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Damiano Fabbri, Gründer des Kulturvereins Freedom, ist einer der Initiatoren des „Cammino dei Tre Villaggi“, des kürzesten Etappenwanderwegs Italiens. Der rund 20 Kilometer lange Weg verbindet die Ortschaften San Giovanni in Tuscia, Barbarano Romano und Blera. Ein weiteres Projekt von Damiano ist der „Cammino tra Terra e Mare“, ein Fernwanderweg, der in San Giovanni in Tuscia beginnt und bis zum Hafen von Civitavecchia führt. Für die Bücher „A piedi nel Far West“ und „111 Orte in der Maremma, die du unbedingt entdecken musst“ war Damiano ein unverzichtbarer Wegbegleiter und Experte für naturnahes Wandern und die Welt der Transhumanz.

Festivalleitung
Irene Pellegrini – Soziologin, Autorin und zertifizierte Wanderführerin (Sentieri Liberi, Murci, Maremma)

Mit Unterstützung von
Gemeinde Semproniano, Verein „La Piazzoletta“, Netzwerk Pibinko.org

Bildnachweis: Damiano Fabbri


FTEM #2 – The Guests: Damiano Fabbri (Associazione Promozione Sociale Freedom)

Compositions

Following the brief presentation of the Santa Cristina Parish Church, where the talks and presentations of the First Maremme Cross-Border Hiking Festival, will be held, let us introduce one of the guests.

Damiano Fabbri is the founder of the Freedom cultural association. He is one of the creators of the Cammino dei tre villaggi, the shortest trail in Italy, uniting in a 20-km hike the villages of San Giovanni in Tuscia, Barbarano Romano e Blera. Another one of Damiano’s ideas is the land to sea hike from San Giovanni in Tuscia to the Civitavecchia harbor. For the two books A piedi nel far west e 111 luoghi delle maremme che devi proprio scoprire, Damiano has been a very important guide in relation to bottom-up hiking and the world of transhumance.

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: Damiano Fabbri

FTEM #1 The Santa Cristina Parish Church in Rocchette di Fazio (Southern Tuscany)

Compositions

As we approach the Avvicinandosi al primo Festival Transfrontaliero dell’Escursionismo nelle Maremme (June 14-15 in Rocchette di Fazio, Southern Tuscany) we have realized that this is a first edition of something happening in a place which very few people know. For this reason we decided to provide you with some introductory articles about the places and the guests featured in the Festival.

The starting point is the Santa Cristina Parish Churh. This is the venue which will hosts presentations and talks during the event. The church is now deconsacrated. It was built during the 13th centuring next to the fortress, overseeing the valley of the Albegna river.

A legend says that close to the church a templar knight was buried, an in fact the templar order had in Rocchette di Fazio one of its strongholds.

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 credit: Sentieri Liberi – Murci

ASBUC Tatti meets Social Sciences and Humanities

Compositions

A few days ago ASBUC (Amministrazione Separata Beni e Usi Civici) in Tatti (Southern Tuscany) had a visit by Riccardo Franchini, a PhD student in “Social Sciences and Humanities” at the University of Siena.

The event was an opportunity for ASBUC to present both historical aspects and current developments in the small community in the Massa Marittima area, and to share more food for thought that Riccardo may elaborate during his research. The common intent is to remain in contact during the upcoming phases of Riccardo’s work and to assess options for more exchanges and collaborations.

In the header picture: Sergio Cappelletti, Auro Luti and Adriano Fronzaroli with Riccardo Franchini. Below, some of the maps in the ASBUC premises.

For more information: micalosapevo@pibinko.org or +393317539228

June 14/15, 2025 – First Maremme Cross-Border Hiking Festival, Rocchette di Fazio (Southern Tuscany) – Presentation

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In mid June, in the awesome medieval setting of Rocchette di Fazio, in the Albegna valley, at the feet of the West side of Mount Amiata, the first edition of the Maremme Cross-Border Hiking Festival will be held.

The festival is intended as the first episode of a roaming annual event focused on the promotion and the development of a hiking network connecting the territories of the so called “maremme”, and especially the inner hill and mountain area in the provinces of Grosseto, Viterbo, Pisa and Leghorn, with a high depopulation risk.

One of the most important aspects of the event, reinforced by its cross-border nature, is the priority on the function of hiking as a social connector. Leveraging the historical legacy of some of the longer communication routes (such as the Via Clodia or the Via del Sale) – the idea bring a constant, controlled, and aware number of hikers in these areas, whose beauty matched only by the lack of services and job opportunities for those who decide to live there all year long.

The festival schedule is composed by hikes, presentations of books and hiking projects, and food-based conviviality. It is the belief of the organisers that trails should first of all unite people in common projects, bringing away distance and exalting differences in geography, culturale, language, and food. Considering these aspects, the festival will be of interest not only for hiking enthusiasts, but also for private businesses and public administrations.

The participation to the various festival events is free. However, we will appreciate if you can let us know about your presence by e-mail at festivalescursionismomaremme@gmail.com or by phone/whatsapp at +393287178272.

From the same contacts you may obtain information on options for lodging and eating in the area.

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.

The full program of the festival is available at: https://www.pibinko.org/ftemaremme-schedule

Press contacts: Andrea Giacomelli – micalosapevo@pibinko.org, +393317539228

Photo Credits: Sentieri Liberi – Murci

Grenzüberschreitendes Wanderfestival der Maremma Rocchette di Fazio (GR), 15.–16. Juni 2025

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Das Grenzüberschreitende Wanderfestival der Maremma ist eine Veranstaltung, die dem Wandern gewidmet ist und das Ziel verfolgt, Grenzgebiete der Maremma miteinander zu verbinden und aufzuwerten. Das Festival fördert die Zusammenarbeit zwischen vom Aussterben bedrohten Gebirgsgemeinden und setzt sich für den Aufbau eines kohärenten und nachhaltigen Wegenetzes ein.

Programm

  • Geführte Wanderungen auf historischen Routen
  • Präsentationen von Büchern und Projekten zum Thema Wandern
  • Begegnungen mit Fokus auf lokaler Kulinarik und Kultur

Die Veranstaltung richtet sich nicht nur an Wanderbegeisterte, sondern auch an Akteurinnen und Akteure des Tourismus sowie an Vertreterinnen und Vertreter lokaler Institutionen, die an einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Region interessiert sind.

Teilnahmebedingungen
Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos. Aus organisatorischen Gründen wird eine Anmeldung per E-Mail an festivalescursionismomaremme@gmail.com oder telefonisch/über WhatsApp unter +39 328 717 8272 empfohlen.

Informationen zu Unterkunfts- und Verpflegungsmöglichkeiten sind über dieselben Kontaktstellen erhältlich.

Festivalleitung
Irene Pellegrini – Soziologin, Autorin und zertifizierte Wanderführerin (Sentieri Liberi, Murci, Maremma)

Mit Unterstützung von
Gemeinde Semproniano, Verein „La Piazzoletta“, Netzwerk Pibinko.org

Detailprogramm

Samstag, 14. Juni

  • 15:00 Uhr – Geführte Wanderung: „Anello di Bellafreddi“, Rundweg bei Rocchette di Fazio und seinen Schluchten (ca. 4 km, mittlerer bis leichter Schwierigkeitsgrad)
  • 18:00 Uhr – Buchpräsentation in der Pieve di Santa Cristina (Rocchette di Fazio)
    Vorgestellte Werke:
    „A piedi nel Far West“ (Effigi) und „111 luoghi delle Maremme che devi proprio scoprire“ (Emons) von Irene Pellegrini
    Moderation: Laura Fontani
  • 20:00 Uhr – Erfrischung / Empfang

Sonntag, 15. Juni

  • 10:00 Uhr – Geführte Wanderung: Von Rocchette di Fazio nach Semproniano und zurück (ca. 7 km, mittlerer bis leichter Schwierigkeitsgrad)
  • 15:30 Uhr – Themenrunde: „Wandern in den Maremmen: Vorbildliche Erfahrungen“
    Beiträge von:
  • Damiano Fabbri (Stayfreedom, San Giovanni in Tuscia): Erfahrungsbericht über den „Cammino dei Villaggi“ und den „Cammino Terramare“
  • Stefano Mecorio (Autor): Über das Erzählen des Wanderns und das Netzwerk „Camminatori Indipendenti“
  • Marco D’Aureli (Anthropologe): Die Erfahrung von Simulabo und das narrative Trekking
  • Paolo Guardala & Maja Borer (Amici della Via Clodia): Die Via Clodia in Latium und das Beispiel der Mühle von Oriolo
  • 18:30 Uhr – Abschluss-Aperitif

June 14/15, 2025 – First Maremme Cross-Border Hiking Festival, Rocchette di Fazio (Southern Tuscany) – Schedule

Senza categoria

Below is the festival schedule. For a detailed presentation of the event see also: https://www.pibinko.org/ftemaremme-presentation/. For more information and confirmation of participation: festivalescursionismomaremme@gmail.com or +393287178272 (phone/Whatsapp).

Saturday, June 14

  • 3PM –Hike: Bellafredda, Rocchette and its gorges (circular hike about 4 km, medium-easy level)
  • 6PM – Pieve di Santa Cristina (Rocchette di Fazio)
    Book presentations
    A piedi nel Far West (Effigi) and 111 luoghi delle Maremme che devi proprio scoprire (Emons) by Irene Pellegrini. Moderator: Laura Fontani
  • 8PM – Refreshments

Sunday, June 15

  • 10AM – Hike: From Rocchette di Fazio to Semproniano and back (about 7 km, medium-easy level)
  • 3:30PM – Hiking in the Maremme: some best practices
    • Damiano Fabbri (Stay Freedom, San Giovanni in Tuscia) – The experiences wiht the Cammino dei Villaggi and Cammino Terramare
    • Stefano Mecorio (author) – Hike storytelling and the “Consorzio dei camminatori indipendenti”
    • Marco D’Aureli (anthropologist) – The Simulabo experience and narrative trekking
    • Paolo Guardala and Maja Borer (Amici della Via Clodia) – Via Clodia in Latium and the Mola di Oriolo experience
  • 6:30PM – Closing “Aperitivo”

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