A land made to be explored on horseback
Some landscapes are best understood slowly. The Maremma on horseback is one of them: wide open spaces, pine forests, Mediterranean scrub, fields stretching almost to the sea and trails where the pace naturally begins to slow.
Here, the horse is not simply a way to explore the landscape, but an essential part of its history. This is the land of the Maremma butteri, the traditional horsemen who for centuries looked after cattle and herds across the vast countryside of southern Tuscany. With their distinctive riding style, traditional clothing and deep knowledge of animals and the land, the butteri remain one of the most authentic symbols of the Maremma.
This tradition does not belong only to the past. At the Tenuta di Alberese, in the heart of the Maremma Regional Park, the work of the butteri continues today and visitors can take part in excursions and activities connected with Maremma traditions.
Discover the experiences offered by Tenuta di Alberese
You do not necessarily need to be an experienced rider to discover the Maremma from horseback. There are routes of different lengths and levels of difficulty, allowing visitors to cross countryside, woodland and wetlands accompanied by local guides.
From the hills to the beach, following the rhythm of nature
Among the most fascinating areas for horseback riding in the Maremma is Alberese and the Monti dell’Uccellina. The Maremma Regional Park offers a variety of horseback trails crossing very different landscapes: plains, olive groves, Mediterranean scrub, pine forests and areas rich in wildlife.
Horseback trails in the Maremma Regional Park
One of the most beautiful routes is Collelungo, intended for experienced riders. Starting from the plains and olive groves, the trail crosses woodland and pastures before reaching the beach and, during permitted periods, continuing along the sea and through the Grand Ducal Pine Forest.
It is precisely this meeting between countryside and coast that makes the Maremma landscape so distinctive. Within just a few kilometres, the vegetation, scents and light change completely: white country roads and isolated farmhouses give way to maritime pines, Mediterranean scrub and finally the open horizon of the sea.
Autumn is one of the most enjoyable times to discover this landscape on horseback. Temperatures become milder, the colours of the countryside begin to change and, after the busiest months of summer, silence returns along with a different perception of space.
Exploring the Maremma on horseback means rediscovering its distances and its silence. The landscape does not rush past you, but allows itself to be observed: the outline of the hills, the sound of hooves on the ground, the scent of the pine forest and, suddenly, the sea.
It is a simple and ancient way of discovering this part of Tuscany and perhaps, for this very reason, still one of the best ways to understand its true character.