Sasso di Simone, Mountain summit in Tuscany, Italy.
Sasso di Simone is a limestone mountain in Tuscany, close to the border with Marche, with a distinctly flat top that gives it a table-like profile. It sits within the Riserva Naturale Sasso di Simone e Simoncello, a protected natural area in the central Apennines.
In the 16th century, Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, planned to build a fortified city on the flat summit, to be called Cosmopoli. The project was never finished, but early foundation works were carried out and traces of them can still be found on the plateau.
The Sasso di Simone is easy to recognize from a distance because of its flat, table-like top, which stands apart from the surrounding hills. Walkers who reach the summit find an open rocky plateau where views reach deep into the Tuscan and Marche countryside.
Reaching the summit plateau requires sturdy footwear, as the paths can be steep and rocky in the final section. The area may be icy in winter, so the best time to visit is between April and October.
The Sasso di Simone has a twin, the nearby Simoncello, and the two are often referred to together as the Sassi di Simone e Simoncello. Despite sitting side by side, they have very different shapes: Sasso di Simone flat and rectangular, Simoncello rounder and more covered in vegetation.
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