The earth’s water veins: the Ombrone, between memory, attentive listening, and the future
"The EC@EAUVIE Project: between memory and prospects for sustainable development, 60 years after the flood" — a meeting in Paganico on the preservation and enhancement of the Ombrone River.
There are watercourses that do more than just flow: they safeguard. They accompany the passage of the seasons, quench the thirst of stone and roots, and gather the breaths and memories of those who have built their lives along their banks.
The Ombrone is the living vein of our Maremma. An ancient, majestic, and at times impetuous river, it speaks a language composed of silences, sudden floods, and a solemn beauty that shapes both the landscape and the soul of those who dwell there.
Nearly sixty years after that November in 1966, when the waters burst their bounds, leaving a deep, scarring wound across all of Tuscany, the memory of those days is not merely a matter of nostalgia or a perfunctory calendar observance. Instead, it becomes an active listening: an ongoing endeavor rooted in awareness, stewardship, and a profound respect for the land.
A time for coming together: the “River Appreciation Day”
Looking toward the river means learning, once again, to walk at its pace. In this spirit, and as part of the European project EC@EAUVIE (Interreg Italy–France Maritime Programme 2021–2027), an opportunity for shared reflection is taking shape.
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the Casa del Fiume (River House) in Paganico will open its doors for a “River Appreciation Day.” At 11:30 a.m., focusing on the theme:
The EC@EAUVIE project. Between memory and prospects for sustainable development, 60 years after the flood
we will come together to weave together threads of memory and visions for the future. The discussion will focus on prevention, land stewardship, and a new alliance between communities and their waterways, utilizing "River Agreements" (*Contratti di Fiume*) and the CLLD (*Community-Led Local Development*) methodology, to ensure that local inhabitants once again become the true guardians of their own landscape.
A journey that also becomes a concrete gesture: on this occasion, FAR Maremma will present the new regranting notice, created to support and encourage the flourishing of small projects dedicated to outdoor life and gentle discovery along the Ombrone axis.
Weavings of Water and Light: The Routes of the Ombrone
The EC@EAUVIE project weaves a web connecting Tuscany, Sardinia, Corsica, and the PACA region, rediscovering rivers and lakes not as borders, but as bridges of culture and identity.
Along the Ombrone Valley, the river reveals itself through routes designed for a slow-paced experience, connecting mountain peaks to the coastline:
The Echo of the City (Grosseto): A route of approximately 4.5 km, starting from the Berrettino area, that invites you to reconnect with the water—whether on foot, or by drifting along slowly in a canoe, kayak, or on a SUP board.
The Wild Song of the Upper Valley (Roccastrada and Monticiano): Amidst the rocky gorges and ancient shadows of Torniella and the Val di Farma, where water carves the stone in the natural spectacle known as the Canaloni.
The spring and the mountain (Monte Amiata and Paganico): From the crystal-clear streams of Monte Amiata—such as the Ente in Castel del Piano—that flow down toward the plains, telling the ancient story of water that bestows life and energy.
Experiences that blend with the simple, wonderful rituals of old: gliding by canoe through the reed beds of the Maremma Park in Alberese, or cycling at a leisurely pace along the path that follows the Ombrone River all the way to its final embrace with the sea.
The land, the olive tree, the river
In our daily life, the care of the olive grove is never separate from the pulse of the surrounding landscape. Our organic olive oil comes from the very land that these rivers flow through—from that same fragile and precious balance that we must strive to safeguard, day after day.
To stop looking at the river with the fear of the unknown and to begin experiencing it once again as a companion along the way—this is the first step toward inhabiting the landscape with grace, respect, and gratitude.
The “River Enhancement Day” will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the *Casa del Fiume* (River House) in Paganico. To confirm your attendance and join this opportunity for discussion, please register using the event registration form.
