The entire territory of Amiata, included the spectacular mountain, is a great natural space. Almost seven natural reserves are scattered in this corner of Tuscany.
The municipal territory of Abbadia San Salvatore extends for 58.92 square kilometres on the eastern slopes of Monte Amiata and the valley of the river Paglia.
If you arrive from the north or from the south, along the Cassia, Montalcino appears in front of you, at a distance, high up, with its wide expanse profile, interrupted by towers and belfries. Between olive trees and vineyards, it dominates over those valleys found to the east of the river Asso, to the west of the river Ombrone, and to the south of the river Orcia. The volcanic profile of Monte Amiata closes the southern horizon of this town.
The landscape around the Abbadia San Salvatore is, naturally, that offered by the mountain, with its woods of beeches and chestnut trees. Although wonderful to see are the valleys all around, too. In springtime, you can walk along paths full of wild orchids and of flowers of every kind, down to the Cassia and Val d’Orcia, towards Radicofani or Piancastagnaio, or the valley of the river Paglia, so nice for picnics and trekking.
The Mine’s Museum
In Abbadia San Salvatore was once one of the world’s most important mercury mines and where till now are visible mining structure representing interesting testifies of industrial archaeology. The collections which are exposed inside the Museum include minerals, tools, documents, objects and pictures concerning the cinnabar’s extraction as well as the mercury distillation.The museum institution keeps the archives of the Mercury Society Monte Amiata, of the Morone-Siele-Abetina-Solforate mines, of the hospital Monte Amiata, of the mining factories in Abbadia and the archive of drawings.
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