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Along the Railway to the
Salt pits
(P, B)
Volterra-Cappuccini-the railway
track-Saline di Volterra- the old salt pits-Scornello-Volterra
Time needed: half a day
This is an open panoramic trail following the old
rack-railway that ran from Volterra to Saline
from 1912 to1958. Saline has always been economically important to Volterra for its salt
extraction. At the Cappuccini Convent ( 15th-16th century) walk down the road leading to
the railway track. Follow the track crossed by several bridges, lined with old railway
houses and small maintenence buildings; this is a charming walk through open countryside
and a spectacular view of the soft rolling Tuscan hills down to Saline. At Saline walk
past the salt factory and a chemical plant you come to the area of the old salt pits .
Once extracted by evaporation,water is now injected into the underground deposits and the
brine is then industrially treated (by evaporation and centrifugation).
The prolonged exploitation of the rock salt has modified the landscape in the area.
Returning up the road towards Scornello, a villa of the Inghirami family proceed through
old farm houses until you come to the SS.68 just below S.Lazzero.
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