Sport and outdoor activities in San Vincenzo

The best holidays are the ones that leave you with a little sand on your skin… and plenty of energy! In San Vincenzo, all it takes is to hop on a bike or head to a sports facility to turn an ordinary day into an outdoor experience on the Etruscan Coast. For an active holiday filled with movement, nature and plenty of fun to share with the whole family.

You can organise a bike ride with your children along the cycle paths that wind through pine forests, hills and scenic stretches, or enjoy your favourite sport even while on holiday. San Vincenzo in fact boasts facilities dedicated to numerous sports disciplines, including tennis, football, rugby, archery and even a velodrome. All this, just a stone’s throw from hotels and holiday apartments!

The best cycling routes for families in San Vincenzo

From the San Vincenzo cycle path, perfect for a family ride between the town centre and the Rimigliano Park, to the Ginepro route, which winds through dunes, pine forests and Mediterranean scrub connecting to the trails towards Baratti and Populonia, and on to the Corbezzolo, the most adventurous itinerary leading to San Carlo and the inland panoramas: each route offers the chance to discover the Etruscan Coast as a family from a new perspective.

The cycle path towards Rimigliano

If you’re looking for an easy route to cycle with children, the San Vincenzo bike trail is the ideal starting point.

  • The route runs along Viale della Principessa, the road connecting San Vincenzo to Piombino, near the Fosso delle Prigioni.
  • Skirt the town of San Vincenzo and cycle for about 4 km, until you reach the first entrance to the Rimigliano Coastal Park, the true star of this route and one of the most beautiful natural areas in Tuscany!
  • Once you reach the park, you can choose whether to continue along the tarmac road, or enter the protected area and follow the well-maintained dirt trails, which are also suitable for families. Here, cycling takes on a different pace. The scent of pine accompanies your journey, the shade from the vegetation offers relief on the hottest days, and there are plenty of places to stop for a break: equipped areas with picnic tables, toilets and a refreshment point open during the summer season, perfect for turning a simple bike ride into a delightful day outdoors.
  • Continue your ride towards La Torraccia, where an ancient coastal watchtower stands.
  • At this point, you can also choose to head towards the Gulf of Baratti and reach the Baratti and Populonia Park, one of the most popular archaeological sites for families on the Etruscan Coast.

The Juniper, the Dune Trail

If the Rimigliano cycle path is perfect for a relaxing ride with the children, the Ginepro allows you to fully immerse yourself in the nature of the Etruscan Coast. Thanks to its minimal elevation change and short duration, the Ginepro is a great alternative for families used to cycling.

  • The route starts from the Terre Rosse hut-refuge and extends for approximately 8 km up to the Fosso di Torre Nuova, connecting to the trails leading towards the Gulf of Baratti and Populonia. Here, the path gently descends alongside the ruins of the historic Etruscan Mines plant, a testament to the mining activity that characterised this area at the beginning of the twentieth century.
  • In the first part of the route, you cross the countryside and skirt the Masseto and Prunicce woods.
  • After crossing farm roads and reaching the Horse Trail stop, the route leads you to the underpass that takes you into the Rimigliano Coastal Park. This is where the landscape transforms completely.
  • For around 5 km you travel along the historic Via dei Cavalleggeri, a dirt road immersed in nature that runs parallel to the coast. On one side, sandy beaches and dunes covered with myrtle, juniper and various species of pine follow one another; on the other, the Mediterranean scrub stretches out, with pines, holm oaks, oaks, phillyrea, mastic and wild olive trees. Wonderful is the alternation of sea views, shaded stretches and landscapes that perfectly showcase the biodiversity of Alta Maremma.
  • The final part of the itinerary takes you to the start of the trails of the Baratti and Populonia Archaeological Park.

Useful Information

  • Length: approx. 8 km
  • Travel time: approximately 2 hours
  • Difference in altitude: 140 metres
  • Suitable for: bikes, trekking and horse riding
  • Recommended period: all year round

The Strawberry tree, the path of the rocks

With the Il Corbezzolo trail, you explore the wildest and most surprising side of the San Vincenzo hinterland. This route is ideal for families with older children who are used to cycling.

  • The route starts from the Acquaviva district and ventures into the Valle delle Rozze, passing through woods of holm oak, strawberry tree, Turkey oak and ash. The first part of the route is fairly straightforward and lets you cycle through the Mediterranean scrub, until you reach the San Carlo hamlet, where it’s well worth stopping for a break. Founded in the 1930s as a workers’ village of the Solvay Company, San Carlo still retains a peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by the greenery of pine forests and hills that characterise this part of the Etruscan Coast.
  • Once past San Carlo, the landscape changes completely. The trail gradually ascends towards the Monte Calvi hills, offering ever-wider views over the Populonia Promontory and the Tuscan Archipelago islands. This is one of those routes where it feels natural to stop often, not only to catch your breath, but above all to admire the scenery.
  • The vegetation also takes on different characteristics compared to the coastal routes. The rockier terrain is home to junipers, broom, mastic, holm oaks and numerous wild species, including some varieties of wild orchids that grow on the slopes of Monte Calvi.
  • Proceed towards the Terre Rosse mountain hut-refuge and the Valle dei Manienti. Here the trail follows the valley floor until it reaches the area of the Rocca di San Silvestro: this marks the most challenging section of the entire route.
  • The ascent first leads to the Buca del Grillo and then towards the Vallino, where there is a rest area equipped with a table, ideal for a break surrounded by nature. From here, the route climbs again through woods and rocks until it reaches the spectacular Buca del Serpente, a deep natural cavity that is one of the most evocative spots of the hike.
  • Once you reach the Buca del Serpente, the trail ends and the return route begins. Heading back towards the Buca del Grillo, you can choose between two options: reach the Manienti ridge, where you’ll enjoy stunning views over the surrounding hills before descending towards the Terre Rosse, or head directly back towards the village of San Carlo along a shorter route.

Useful information

  • Length: approximately 10 km
  • Travel time: approximately 3 hours
  • Maximum elevation gain: 420 m
  • Suitable for: bikes, trekking and horse riding
  • Recommended period: all year round

Plan your bike ride in San Vincenzo

Before setting off on your family cycling day, it may be useful to know about some of the services available along the cycle routes in San Vincenzo and a few useful addresses for bike hire.

Where to hire a bike

Tutun Club Rental:

Biker Universe

Funnybike Rental

Where to refill your water bottle

Where to stop for a picnic

The viewpoints

Sports facilities for those who love active holidays

There are families who, along with their swimsuits, also pack their tennis racket. And others who never leave without their own bicycle! Well, excellent choice, because in San Vincenzo sport is an experience to enjoy even on holiday: here you’ll find numerous sports facilities, all easily accessible from the town centre and hotels.

Santa Costanza Sports Complex

If your children can’t stay away from a ball even on holiday, the Santa Costanza Sports Complex is the sports hub in San Vincenzo. Here you’ll find football pitches, five-a-side football pitches and the rugby pitch, all set amidst greenery and just a few minutes from the town centre.

The tennis courts

In San Vincenzo you can play on the 4 regulation courts at the municipal facility, all floodlit and FIT approved. The presence of changing rooms, a grandstand and a bar makes the venue ideal both for a simple family match and for those who wish to keep training during their holiday.

The archery range

If you want your children to try a sport different from the usual football or tennis, in San Vincenzo there is also an archery range. A discipline that combines concentration, coordination, precision and allows you to spend time outdoors in an original way.

The Bocciodromo

Sport can also be synonymous with conviviality. The San Vincenzo bocciodrome is a popular meeting place, where citizens and guest families come together to share a passion that unites different generations!

The E. Solvay Velodrome

It’s not often you find a velodrome in a seaside resort. In San Carlo stands the E. Solvay Velodrome, a historic venue dedicated to track cycling, bearing witness to the strong bond between San Vincenzo and the world of two wheels.

  • Via delle Fontacce, San Carlo

The Sports Arenas

Those who practise indoor sports will also find dedicated spaces. The Lauro Giovani Sports Hall and the Rodari Gym host training sessions, sporting activities and events linked to various disciplines throughout the year: an important point of reference for the sporting life of San Vincenzo.

San Vincenzo Map