Day 1| Modena

Highlights [top]

• Modena, Massa Carrara
• Frignano Natural Park, Garfagnana, Apuan Alps
• The villages of the Apennines: La Santona, S. Anna Pelago, Castelnuovo Garfagnana, Vagli, Resceto

Description [top]

The Vandelli road begins to be built as a will of the Duke of Modena, Francesco III d'Este who wanted to have a safe access to the sea in the territory of its duchy. For this reason the mathematician Domenico Vandelli was asked to draw the layout of a road for carriages, to cross the Apennines; after 10 years of work, the road was completed in 1751.

Therefore, the itinerary turned out to be too unfit for use and threatened by bandits. In winter it was too often impracticable because of the snow; that’s why it has been abandoned soon. Today, the Vandelli road is a wonderful excursionist path.

After having visited the historic city centre of Modena and the wonderful Roman Cathedral, which is part of the Unesco World Heritage, you will reach the Santona, the highest part of the itinerary. Walking through the ancient forest of the Fignola, plunged in a wild and silent panorama, you will reach the splendid glacial basin, to climb then up to 1700 m., to San Pellegrino in Alpe, preserving its sanctuary, the destination of the pilgrimage, transformed into a museum of the rural civilization.

Then, you will go down the Garfagnana woods, meeting little hamlets, medieval villages and Roman parish churches, as far as you will reach and cross the Apuanes Alps, with its white peaks and the precious marble quarries. You will see the wonderful panorama over the Tyrrhenian sea, and you will finally reach the sea in Marina di Massa.

Tour Map [top]

Enlarge Map

Days detail [top]

Day 1 | Modena, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Accommodation in the hotel and visit of the city.

Day 2 | La Santona, Lama Mocogno, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Transfer to La Santona – S. Annapelago
Transfer by public bus to La Santona and departure of the trekking. The first stage of this trek will lead you to Sasso Tignoso. This is a rock formation formed 80 million years ago, when this region was covered with water. The magma, which escaped from the seabed and solidified immediately acquired the distinctive “pillow” shape which gives to Sasso Tignoso its unmistakable appearance. Then, passing by the Giovannoni chapel, with its portico topped by a single arch, you will enter in the Frignano Regional Park. This park, established in 1988, is a protected area of 16 thousand hectares. Arrival and overnight in S. Annapelago.

Day 3 | Lagosanto, Emilia Romagna, Italy

S. Annapelago - Lago Santo
Leaving S.Annapelago you will then reach Lago Santo and you can take some time to walk along its paved banks. Then, it is worth visiting Lago Baccio, as lovely as the bigger Lago Santo. In fact, it is nestled in the ridge, and it is surrounded by the glacial basin of which it is the last remaining survival. Overnight at the refuge at Lago Santo.

Day 4 | San Pellegrino, Frassinoro, Emilia Romagna, Italy

Lago Santo - S. Pellegrino in Alpe
From Lago Santo you will walk to the peak of Mount Giovo, and you will enjoy the wonderful view of the valleys of the Appennines between Tuscany and Emilia. The ridge is characterized by accumulations of rocks and moraine deposits known as rock glaciers, caused by glacial erosion during the last Ice Age. Before arriving in San Pellegrino in Alpe, you can take a look at the “Devil’s Walk”: an ancient custom tells that anyone who had to expiate a sin was required to walk the Giro del Diavolo, and leave there a stone they had carried all the way from home. The last part of the stage leads you to San Pellegrino in Alpe, a beautiful hamlet whose first mention dates back from 1110.

Day 5 | Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany, Italy

S. Pellegrino in Alpe - Castelnuovo Garfagnana
From San Pellegrino to Castiglione Garfagnana the Via Vandelli is now an asphalted road. We will therefore take an even earlier route, which drops down towards the valley of Castiglione. Passing by some “metati”, traditional chestnut drying barns you will reach Castiglione Garfagnana, which was an important defensive stronghold for the Duchy of Lucca in Este territory. The town stands within its XIV century walls, which form an irregular geometrical shape and have strong towers on their corners and besides the gateways. Leaving Castiglione we continue towards a mill called the Mulino di Sotto , dating back from 1700 and towards the town of Pieve Fosciana.

Day 6 | Vaglia, Tuscany, Italy

Castelnuovo Garfagnana - Vagli
Castelnuovo, the capital of Garfagnana, stand in a hollow between the Apuanes Alps and the Apennines. Its castle was probably built in the XIII century, with the square central tower serving as a look out post and prison. Ludovico Ariosto lived here as Governor of the Garfagnana from 1522 to 1525. The first part of today’s stage will lead you to the Mount Alfonso fortress, built by the Duke Alfonso II of the Este family in the second half of the XVI century. You will then continue towards Vagli di Sotto and its important reservoir. The village of Vagli was an important iron-working centre, and its churches definitely worth a visit. Overnight in Vagli.

Day 7 | Marina di Massa, Massa, Tuscany, Italy

Vagli - Apuan Alps – Resceto, transfer to Marina di Massa
Departing from Vagli we will enter in the Apuan Alps Regional Park. This park is managed by the Lipu (Italian society for the Protection of birds). Its visitor’s centre, the starting point for paths leading into the reserve , is close to the old shepherds’ village of Campocatino. The Apuan Alps Park is also famous thanks to its marble quarries: in fact, whenever the sculptor Michelangelo received a new commission, he climbed here to choose the perfect block of marble for its work. Finally, you will reach the town of Resceto, a town that owes its birth to the crossing of the Via Vandelli in its territory. Transfer to Marina di Massa and overnight.

Day 8 | Marina di Massa, Massa, Tuscany, Italy

After breakfast end of the trek

Trip notes [top]

Period [top]

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec

Included [top]

• accommodation 3 nights in hotel***, 3 nights in hotel** in double room with private facilities and 1 night in refuge facilities shared
• Bed & Breakfast on day 1 and 7, and half board on day 2 to 6
• Luggage transport, transfer by private vehicle Resceto/Marina di Massa
• Detailed description of the itinerary
• Private vehicle from Resceto to Marina di Massa

Not included [top]

• Journey to Modena and from Marina di Massa
• Lunches, dinners on day 1 and 7
• Drinks
• Insurance entrance 
• Transfer from airport or rail station to hotel in Modena and transfer by bus from Modena to La Santona
• Everything not explicitly specified

Notes [top]

• Terrain characteristics: mountain terrain, paths and white roads
• Trekking altitude: between 200 and 1.700 mt, average duration of the stages between 4 and 5.30 hours. Positive difference in height between 200 and 1000 mt per day.
• Departures: on Sundays from 27 April to 12 October
• Luggage: During all tours luggage transport is provided from one to the other overnight stop, in order to make trips more comfortable. Luggage (one luggage per person) must be left at the hotel reception before 9:30 am and will be available at the following hotel from 4:00 pm onwards.
• Accommodations:

Day 1: Modena – Hotel***
Day 2: S. Anna Pelago – Hotel**
Day 3: Lago Santo – Refuge
Day 4: San Pellegrino in Alpe – Hotel**
Day 5: Castelnuovo Garfagnana – Hotel***
Day 6: Vagli – Hotel**
Day 7: Marina di Massa – Hotel***

Equipment [top]

• [Da inserire]