Valle del Diavolo
Devil’s Valley
My love of adventure and the extraordinary keeps me constantly searching and always brings me to special places.
With bike and van, I explore all of Europe and even areas beyond.
Lately, I have been particularly taken with Tuscany. I have been there many times, but the more I visit the area, the more I learn about it and the more interesting it becomes to explore very special places in the region.
And this time, time has come.
I set off at sunrise.
I briefly enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and then I’m off.
My trip does not take me to the well-known bike trails as usual. Rather, it`s a journey into the unknown from the very beginning.
Into a little adventure.
From one extraordinary place to the next.
From heroic marble works carved into huge mountain formations…
…to magical hilly landscapes combined with dreamlike sunsets. Could a place to linger, enjoy, and even spend the night be any better?
On top of that, there are wild hot springs right there in the forest to get you in the mood for the devilish valley.
After this short early morning energy boost, we finally head to the place where the journey should reach its climax.
Valle del Diavolo.
“The Valley of the Devil (Italian: Valle del Diavolo) is a geothermally active area covering approximately 200 km² in central Tuscany, which belongs to the municipality of Pomarance. It has been known since ancient times and has been home to one of the world’s largest geothermal power plants since 1905.”
„A few hundred meters underground, volcanic magma brings the groundwater to a boil and pushes it to the earth’s surface under enormous pressure, where it shoots out in rhythmic fountains of steam (soffioni). In other places, boiling water bubbles up and forms large mud puddles (lagoni).
The water contains boron and sulfur.
The name of the area dates back to the Middle Ages. A passage in Dante’s first book of the Divina Commedia – Inferno – describes the “steam that the earth has in its belly.” The lines suggest that the Florentine knew this area. The hissing of the steam fountains, the bubbling, and the stench of hydrogen sulfide from the muddy pools may have inspired the poet. This is how people imagined the entrance to hell in those days.
According to Roman sources, the Etruscans extracted boron from the hot pools, which they used as medicine and to glaze their ceramics.
In the Middle Ages, merchants from Volterra traded sulfur, alum, and vitriol.“
What an incredible location.
True to its name, “Devil’s Valley,” hot steam rises incessantly from the ground here. The hot steam smells strongly and foully of sulfur, making the entire area appear otherworldly.
It’s simply fantastic how the area stretches out before me and what a privilege it is to be able to combine it with my great passion, biking. Because here you can even ride your bike officially and you don’t have to hide.
Freeriding in its purest form and exactly what I dream of every day and why I travel the world.
Biking in unusual places and biking in combination with the most beautiful and purest nature.
Here, you can almost speak of art.
Bike-Art, so to speak.
Simply breathtaking.
Hikes that make you feel like you’re on your way to Mordor from the movie “The Lord of the Rings.”
First test rides on infinitely loose ground, with very little visibility in places but a truly magical atmosphere.
Deeper into “Mordor,” we come across more exciting locations.
Steep descents, mighty counter slopes, and hilly transfers make this area an incredible playground in the midst of hot, steaming earth.
Wow, what an experience.
Beyond that, there is even a bike trail winding through the woods not far from there, ending in a wallride that looks as if it´s been built by the hand of God.
And that in the Devil’s Valley.
Let´s be honest: It pays off every single time to explore the world by bike and go in search of the extraordinary. Because you only live once and some things you just have to see and experience as long as you can.
Traveling the world with van and bike.
Making memories – Not money.
With that in mind, see you next time.
Yours,
Hannes
#ValleDelDiavolo #freeride #roadtrip #artofliving
Pics by Stefanie Wanger