Tuscany Hills and Valleys: Uplift, Exhumation, Valley Downcutting and Relict Landforms

The Tuscany physical landscape is the result of processes of selective erosion initiated by regional uplift. The overall geomorphological setting is characterized by “highlands” or mountain ridges alternated with “lowlands” or basins filled with Mio-Pliocene continental and marine sediments. A planation surface was shaped over bedrock, including Pliocene marine terrains, and is widely preserved on top of the mountain ridges. As a result of uplift, the sedimentary infillings of the Pliocene synform basins were affected by river incision. Gully and badland erosion dominate the clayey terrains while cuestas, mesas and stepped slopes are found in sandstones and conglomerate terrains. Large karstic depressions are also found. In the past, these hosted palaeo-springs that alimented travertine and calcareous tufa deposition which spread out to occupy large valley sectors.