The Colle Val d’Elsa – Poggibonsi cycle path, 7 km long, follows the tracks of the former railway that once linked the two largest towns of the Valdelsa. The railway, laid at the end of the 19th century and designed by engineer Cecilio Arpesani, was a standard gauge single track with an intermediate stop at la Rocchetta. In an effort to keep construction costs to a minimum, the hill of Maltraverso was not tunnelled, which would have greatly reduced travel times. A longer route of about 8 kilometres was chosen, over land that followed the winding course of the river Elsa.
The route was characterised by many sharp bends, the sharpest in the National network, slopes and several even unguarded level crossings, aspects which constantly affected the circulation of certain locomotives as well as train speed, which was always somewhat slow. The Poggibonsi-Colle line, despite its initial success, never managed to make any significant economic returns and after a series of events in 1987, the line was closed for good.
As part of the Sustainable Urban Development Plan presented by the Municipalities of Colle di Val d’Elsa and Poggibonsi, with a view to enhancing and promoting the local area, the old railway line was converted into a cycle path. In 2011 the route was opened to form part of the Valdelsa network of cycle paths.