New view of the Maremma

For millennia, all over the world, farmers have moved their livestock from protected valleys to higher pastures for grazing. The Tuscan Maremma is rife with hidden paths and roads created as herders in Tuscany and neighboring Emilia Romagna moved their animals over the centuries. Called Le Antiche Dogane della transumanza, several of the paths, most of which fell out of use in the 1950s, are now being cleared and mapped for nature lovers to enjoy, thanks to a project called Le vie delle acque, created by environmentalist Massimo Bondi and promoted by the municipality of Manciano (Grosseto).Three paths are already open to the public and five more will open in coming weeks. The paths, which can be traveled by foot, bicycle, mountain bike or horseback, hold a wealth of treasures, among them lesser-known thermal springs and ancient ruins. It is possible to walk from one small town to another on the paths, which are lined with thick, Mediterranean scrub, and along the way take a dip in the many fresh water rivers and ponds.