Merigar West

Submitted by nit on Wed, 27/05/2009 - 13:10
Visit: 

 

Visit Merigar West

These pages are still in development - please bear with us as we improve the structure. In the meantime, all of the information has been updated for the August 2009 retreat.

 

Merigar West is located in the province of Grosseto in Tuscany, Italy, about 150 kilometers from Firenze and 230 kilometers from Roma. The Gar is in a rural setting three kilometers from the town of Arcidosso. There are a number of airports in the region. If you are coming by public transport, you can take a train from cities such as Roma and Pisa to Grosseto and then take a bus from Grosseto to Arcidosso. The bus stop is right outside the Grosseto train station. If coming from the North (Venezia, Milano, Firenze), take a bus from Firenze to Arcidosso (except Sundays, when you have to take a train to Grosseto and a bus from there). A few times a day, there is a bus that stops closer to the Gar (Aiole Est). There are also two direct buses from Roma each day. If you are traveling on a Sunday or a holiday, please note that public transport is limited on those days.

Getting Here
Airports: 

Airports

The main airports serving the Gar are in Roma (Fiumicino and Ciampino), Pisa, Firenze, and Milano.

It is best to choose a flight arriving early in the day to avoid having to spend the night in the city of your arrival. By car, Firenze, Pisa, and Roma take approximately 2 hours. If you are able it will be easiest to rent a car. If you are traveling onward by public transport, check available connections before you book a flight.

From Roma and Pisa, take the train to Grosseto. There are also two direct buses from Roma each day.

From Firenze, take the Rama Mobilità bus from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the only option from Firenze is to take a train to Grosseto and the bus to Arcidosso.

 

Driving Directions: 

Driving Directions

From the North

Option 1 (from Milano, Parma, Bologna via Firenze): Take the A1 tollway and exit at Firenze Certosa. Follow the Firenze-Siena superstrada to Siena, then continue on SS223 (E78) in the direction of Grosseto. After 22 km, when you get to Paganico, follow the signs for Monte Amiata (SP64) and after about 28 km either bear right on SP26 to Arcidosso (and Merigar) or continue on SP64 for Castel del Piano.

Option 2 (along the coast, from Genova, Livorno): Take SS1 (Via Aurelia) to Grosseto and then proceed North on SS223 (Grosseto-Siena) to Paganico. From there, follow the signs for Monte Amiata (SP64) and after about 28 km either bear right on SP26 to Arcidosso (and Merigar) or continue on SP64 for Castel del Piano.

 

From the South

Option 1 (coast road; from Roma and Fiumicino Airport): Take SS 1 (Via Aurelia) to Grosseto and then continue on SS223 (Grosseto - Siena) to Paganico. From there, follow the signs for Monte Amiata (SP64) and after about 28 km either bear right on SP26 to Arcidosso (and Merigar) or continue on SP64 for Castel del Piano.

Option 2 (inland highway; from Roma): Take the A1 tollway and exit at Chiusi. From there follow signs for Monte Amiata and then for Arcidosso.

Option 3 (toll-free inland route; from Roma): Take SS2 (Via Cassia), to the intersection for Piancastagnaio. From there follow the signs for Arcidosso.

 

 

Rental Cars: 

Rental Cars

For car rentals from major cities, refer to the Internet. For information about local car rentals contact Christina.

Public Transport: 

Public Transport

Although you can take a train for at least part of your journey, as there is no train station in Arcidosso you will have to take a bus for the last stretch. The closest major train station is Grosseto, a little more than an hour from Arcidosso by bus. Plan ahead since connections are limited and the last buses are in the early evening. If you are traveling on a Sunday or a holiday, please note that public transport is limited on those days.

 

Train: 

Train

From Roma and Pisa

Take the train to Grosseto. To find trains directly from Fiumicino Airport on the Trenitalia website, search on “Roma Aeroporto” and from Pisa “Pisa Aeroporto”). From Grosseto, take the bus to Arcidosso or Castel del Piano. Some buses also stop at Aiuole (near the Gar).

From Firenze

On Sundays, when there is no bus from Firenze, take the train to Grosseto from Firenze SMN. From Grosseto, take the bus to Arcidosso or Castel del Piano. Some buses also stop at Aiuole (near the Gar).

 

Buses: 

Bus

 

Be sure to confirm bus times since schedules change each fall and spring. Please also note that most of these buses do not run on Sundays and holidays.

We have posted the bus schedules here because the Rama Mobilità website is difficult to use. If you want to try to use their site and do not understand Italian, you can use a translation tool such as Google Translate. You can also consult the pdf of the complete bus schedule.

There are two bus stops in Arcidosso. All times given here are for the stop on the main square (Piazza Independenza).

In Castel del Piano there are several stops. All times given here are for the main stop on Piazza Carducci in front of the Castel del Piano Coop supermarket.

 

From Roma

Rama bus from Fiumicino Airport in Roma to Grosseto (opposite Terminal C):

Fiumicino  Grosseto Grosseto  Arcidosso
14:55  17:25  17:40  18:50

Monday to Saturday, NOT Sunday/holidays. Approx. €20, buy ticket on bus.

Bargaglia bus from Roma Tiburtina:

Roma Tiburtina Aiole   Arcidosso Castel del Piano
15:15  18:46  18:50  18:55

Shuttle trains from Fiumicino Airport to Tiburtina every half hour. Walk from Tiburtina train station to bus terminal. Monday to Saturday, NOT Sunday/holidays. Approx. €15, buy ticket on bus.

 

From Firenze

Rama Mobilità bus from Firenze SMN to Arcidosso:

Firenze SMN  Paganico Paganico Arcidosso Aiole
10.05 11.48 11.52 12.48  
12.05 13.48 13.59 14.52  
14.00  15.48 16.05 16.55  
15.55*  17.50 17.55 19.00  19.10
16.05 17.48 18.04 18.50  
18.05  19.48  20.10 20.50  

Santa Maria Novella is the main train station in Firenze. The Rama bus stop is across from the station towards the left. All buses Monday to Saturday, except as noted. NOT Sunday/holidays. Approx. €10, buy ticket at ticket booth.

*Monday to Friday only.

 

From Grosseto

Rama Mobilità bus from Grosseto FS to Arcidosso:

Grosseto  Paganico  Paganico  Arcidosso  Castel del Piano*****
8:45  9:07  9:10  10:05 10:10
11:15**** - - 12:53 13:00
11:20 - - 12:48 12:55
13:30* - - 14:52 14:59
14:10* - - 15:20 15:14
17:40* - - 18:50 18:44
18:30**** - - 19:53  20:00
18:35***** - - 19:45 19:39
19:30** 19:52 20:10 20:50 20:44

Rama station is just outside the Grosseto train station. Some buses to Arcidosso require a change at Paganico. Buses shown run Monday to Saturday, NOT Sunday/holidays except as noted. Approx. €4. Buy ticket at ticket booth.

* Also stops at Aiole (just before Arcidosso).

** Last bus Monday to Friday.

*** Last bus on Saturday.

**** Sunday only.

***** Some buses stop in Castel del Piano before Arcidosso.

 

Getting Around
By Car: 

Driving to the Gar

 

From the roundabout (“rotonda”) in the center of Arcidosso, take Via Lazzaretti in the direction of Santa Fiore. Drive 3 kilometers up the winding road. Just after you pass the sign for Località Aiuole, take a right at the Colle degli Angeli hotel. Bear left and follow the sign for Merigar up the hill another 1.5 kilometers to the Gar.

Bus: 

Local Bus

 

There are a few buses a day from Castel del Piano and Arcidosso to Aiole, which is 1.5 kilometers from the Gar. From Aiuole (sometimes misspelled Aiole) you can walk uphill towards the left to the Gar (follow Merigar sign), but usually, and especially during retreats, there are plenty of Community members driving up the road.

 

Bus tickets (approx. €2) are available on the bus or, for a lower price, at the bus terminal and Bar Amiata (across from the hospital) in Castel del Piano or at tabaccheria shops. Check schedules at the bus stop for additional buses (look for buses going to Santa Fiora or Castell’Azzarra). In the online schedule, you have to search on Aiole EST. We have listed only the relevant morning buses here. Be sure to tell the driver you want to get off at Aiole.

Castel del Piano  Arcidosso  Aiole EST
(across from Coop)  (P.zza Independenza)  
6:35 6:40 6:45
7:15* 7:20 7:25
7:35 7:40 7:45
9:45* 9:50 9:55
10:10 10:15 10:20

* Sunday and holidays only.

 

Hitchhiking: 

Hitchhiking

 

During retreats, it is generally easy to hitch a ride to the Gar as there are many Community members passing through Arcidosso on their way there. Either stand at the beginning of Via Lazzaretti (near the rotonda) or at the end of Via Lazzaretti near the steps leading up to a monument. If the driver is not going all the way to the Gar, ask him or her to let you off at Località Aiuole (3 km from Arcidosso, 1.5 km from the Gar). From there you can walk uphill towards the left to the Gar (follow Merigar sign), but usually, especially during retreats and courses, there are plenty of Community members driving up the road who will give you a ride.

 

Walking: 

Walking

 

There are two ways to walk to the Gar from Arcidosso. It takes either a little less than an hour or more than an hour, depending on your pace and which path you choose. The walk is very pleasant, but it is fairly strenuous and uphill most of the way. It is good to have sun protection. Do not attempt to walk on the road – it is dangerous and long.

 

The shortest route is to walk on Via Roma in the direction of Monticello (past the VW shop and over the small bridge) for a few hundred meters until you get to Via della Torricella on the left (second small road off to the left after the bridge). Follow Via della Torricella steeply up the hill for about 30 minutes until you come to a chestnut grove on both sides of the road. The asphalt ends here, but stay straight ahead on the gravel road about 10 minutes until you come to an iron crucifix on the left. Bear left and take the narrow path on the left up the hill from here. Continue on the path about 15 minutes, steadily going uphill. You will see the large stupa in the distance on the right, but do not attempt to cut across the fields yet. After passing through several patches of scotch broom, the path will bear right (still uphill) and then level out along the edge of some trees, eventually leading to the small stupa near the Serkhang (“Casa Giallo”), which is where the Merigar office is located.

 

A less steep, but slightly longer, alternative is to start at the small road to the right of the steps leading up to the monument at the end of Via Lazzaretti. Follow this road uphill for about 20 minutes (it will become narrower) until the path bears clearly to the right. Continue to the right between some fields and past a cell phone tower on the left. After about 15 minutes you will pass through a chestnut grove and meet up with the top of Via della Torricella. Make a left onto Via della Torricella, which turns into a gravel road after about 30 meters, and follow the directions above beginning with “the asphalt ends here…”

 

Accommodations: 

Accommodations

 

For detailed information about local accommodations as well as logistic assistance for your stay in the area, contact Christina. You can also request information about Roma and Firenze. In addition, we have provided a list of accommodations and restaurants in the area.

 

Food: 

Food

 

During retreats and courses, there is a cantina at Merigar that provides reasonably-priced lunches and dinners. Lunches and snacks are also available at the Meribar and Kayo Bar.

 

Supermarkets and small grocery stores in the Arcidosso and Castel del Piano area have a good selection of Italian food. There are a few small health food stores in the area. There are a variety of restaurants in the region.

 

Shops/ATMs: 

Shops/ATMs

 

Shops in the area close for several hours around lunch. Hours are approximately 9:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 or 16:30 to 19:30. Some supermarkets remain open over the lunch hour on Friday. In summer, the supermarkets are open in the morning on Sundays until 12:30.

 

There are several ATMs in Arcidosso and Castel del Piano. If one does not work for your card, try the next one.

Telecommunications: 

Telecommunications

 

Mobile Phones

 

If you have an unlocked mobile phone, you can buy a prepaid SIM card for approx. €10 (with voice time included). You can recharge your phone credit at the tabaccheria (“ricarica SIM”).

 

Elettronica Bulgherini, on Via Circonvallazione Nouva (T 0564 967 482), sells SIM cards for phones and Internet. If you are walking, the best way to get to the shop is to take the steps to the left of the Spar supermarket on Piazza Independenza down to Circonvallazione Nouva and cross the road there, then go down about 50 meters to the left. The store is on the right side of the road. Bring a passport.

 

Internet

 

There is no Internet café in the area. There is wireless Internet at the Gar, but it gets overloaded during retreats. There is also one computer for public use at the Gar.

 

If you need regular Internet access, you can purchase a prepaid wireless Internet plan from Elettronica Bulgherini in Arcidosso (see Mobile Phones for location). TIM (Telecom Italia) offers several prepaid highspeed packages. You may not be able to use this technology in rural areas like the Gar, but it does work in and around the local towns. If you do not have a UMTS or HSDPA phone or an HSDPA stick modem, you can buy a HUAWEI stick modem from Bulgherini for about €90. The people in the shop do not speak much English, so you may want to bring someone to help you. Bring a passport as you will need it for registration.

 

Contact: 

Contact Merigar West

 

Associazione Culturale Comunità Dzogchen

Merigar West, Loc. Merigar, 58031 Arcidosso (GR) Italy

Tel. +39-0564-966837

Fax. +39-0564-968110

Email: office@dzogchen.it

Map & Address: 
Merigar West
Loc Merigar
Arcidosso, GR, 58031
Italy
AttachmentSize
Accomodation-updated-on-dec-09.pdf98.34 KB
Location type : 
Gar