Trekking along the Railway

Right next to the entrance of our agriturismo, it’s impossible not to notice a charming masonry bridge that we cross as if it were a small underpass. This structure, built in the early 20th century, was part of the historic Saline–Volterra railway, once traveled by the famous “littorine” trains that connected Pisa to Volterra. Although trains no longer run today, there are plans to transform this line into a panoramic tourist train, capable of reviving the thrill of traveling through the gentle Tuscan hills.

In the meantime, however, the old track has already found a new life: it has become a beloved hiking trail, perfect for those who wish to reach Volterra or Saline (its hamlet) on foot, immersed in a landscape full of nature, history, and silence. A unique opportunity for lovers of trekking, countryside walks, and the authentic panoramas of the Volterra area.

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There is a trail that begins right at Saline di Volterra, and even today it preserves tangible traces of a past filled with rails and puffs of steam. The first two hundred meters of the path wind along what remains of the historic railway line: tracks still firmly fixed to iron sleepers, like fragments of memory embedded in the earth. From there begins a slow but captivating journey through open landscapes, industrial history, and Tuscan nature.

The ancient railway, about eight and a half kilometers long, once gently climbed toward Volterra, allowing the locomotive to gain altitude without strain. Today, the same ascent can be walked at a leisurely pace, as the Volterra hills open majestically before your eyes, and the unmistakable silhouette of the Etruscan city appears on the horizon.

Along the way, you encounter silent ruins, such as the railway keepers’ houses: former homes of the railway workers who watched over the line, now swallowed by time but still capable of telling a story. Further on, the climb becomes steeper: this is where the railway once used an ingenious rack system, slowing the train to 15 km/h to tackle the incline.

The views change, becoming broader and more spectacular. You can see the Cornate hills, the Metalliferous Hills, the mighty Rocca Sillana, and the vast Val di Cecina opening like a fan. The trail demands a little more effort here, but it is precisely in this stretch that it offers the truest emotions.

As the hills begin to narrow, the path approaches Volterra. Two ancient railway bridges, still clearly visible, announce the entrance to the final part of the trail. The first of the two lies right in front of our agriturismo! Shortly after, you reach the area of the old station: a suggestive gateway that opens onto the city, concluding the journey with the feeling of having crossed not just a physical space, but a piece of Tuscan memory.