The Colline Metallifere (Metalliferous Hills or Metal-Bearing Hills) represent the widest chain of hills and mountains of the Tuscan Antiappennino, including the four provinces of Livorno, Pisa, Siena and Grosseto.
This is an area with a subsurface particularly rich of minerals and geothermal energy sources used for the production of electric energy, as in the case of geysers of Larderello and the Lago Boracifero (Boracifero Lake), nearby Monterotondo Marittimo.
The extraction and exploitation of mineral deposits dates back to ancient times, it already started in the Etruscan period to continue during the following years and to reach its peak between the second half of the 19th century and after World War II, undergoing a rapid decrease then. In this regard and to service mines, a highly developed rail network was even made that has currently been largely suppressed.
The most important mining and steel centers were represented by Gavorrano, Montieri - in this regard we point out that one of the most distinctive and impressive shows is that of the Roste, just near Montieri - and Monterotondo Marittimo, where it was possible to find lots of resources like copper, silver and iron. However, also the districts of Massa Marittima, Roccastrada, Scarlino, part of Follonica and Castiglione della Pescaia belong to the area of the Colline Metallifere of Grosseto.
The entire zone presents a particularly developed and productive nature where also some of the most important rivers of Tuscany - Cecina, Cornia, Merse, Farma and Bruna - come to life.
The landscapes that form the territory of the Colline Metallifere are really beautiful and varied, despite forests represent at least the 60% of the entire surface: from large oak woods to the Mediterranean hinterland, to the coast with white beaches surrounded by pinewoods. Such an environment is largely uncontaminated, ideal habitat for lots of plants and animal species.
All the area of the Colline Metallifere is particularly suitable to be visited through walking, horseback and bike excursions, fully immersed in a wild and unspoiled nature. There are possible itineraries to follow in order to get in touch with this zone and, in addition to the already mentioned towns, it is possible to make excursions that touch the villages of Marsiliana, Montioni, Sassofortino, Roccatederighi, Montemassi, Tatti, the lake of the Accesa and the Castle of Belagaio.
The villages located inside this territory are mostly ancient Medieval settlements with stone buildings dominated by the shape of castles and towers, each one with its own history and its traditions to discover.
A particularly interesting project aimed to maintain and enhance the tradition of the districts of the Colline Metallifere area is the creation of a Register of the Historic and Traditional Shops (Albo delle Botteghe Storiche e di Tradizione) created in collaboration with the Colline Metallifere Mountain Community to which 36 historic businesses of this area belong that are indirectly responsible of the increase of appreciation of the histoy of High Maremma through their work, so turning into precious testimony of organizations, customs and traditions that emphasize and make people know the identity of these places and of people that live there.