Along the Apennine ridge, from Passo dei due Santi to Passo del Cerreto
The Sentiero Italia is a CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) hiking trail of over 7000 km connecting all 20 Italian regions. A path conceived in 1983 by a group of journalists and hikers, the Sentiero Italia has been maintained and promoted by the Italian Alpine Club since 1990 and has recently regained great notoriety thanks to new marketing campaigns.
Along the Apennine ridge, Tuscany is almost entirely crossed by this path which, descending from the north, enters the Region through the Lunigiana valley and the Passo dei Due Santi, in the Municipality of Zeri. Monte Valoria, on the border between Pontremoli and Berceto (Pr), is the only point in Italy which crosses the Via Francigena, a reminder of the historical importance of thisroute of passage.
Taking a broad view, the panorama sweeps from the Alps to the Po Valley, along the Apennine chain and down to the Mediterranean Sea: walking along the path that follows the crest of the Apennine ridge enables the walker to immediately understand how Lunigiana is a land of border and connection between central and northern Italy, between the sea and the hinterland. Taking a closer look at the detailed surroundings, one can observe how the towers of the castles rise, where the medieval villages are drawn and listen to the flow of the streams. A unique anthropic and natural landscape.

Alongside the valley trails that cross the entire Lunigiana area from north to south and east to west, in particular the Via Francigena and the Via del Volto Santo, certainly the Sentiero Italia is one of the most interesting excursions to discover this area.
In Lunigiana, the Sentiero Italia crosses the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Regional Park of the Apuan Alps and largely coincides with the Alta Via deiParchi. For hikers who intend to walk the path by organising a multi-day itinerary, it is possible to stop and stay overnight in the refuges that you will find inside the two Parks.
There are five legs in Lunigiana. A backpacking trip with Italy at your feet, from the Alps to the Po Valley, to the Ligurian and Tuscan coasts. An experience to be spent alongside company, walking slowly and discovering the natural and anthropic landscapes along the way, or to experience alone, savouring the beauties, difficulties and pleasures of the journey. From Passo dei Due Santi to Passo del Cerreto, a journey along the Apennine ridge: perfect for a summer escape!
Starting from Zum Zeri, you easily reach the ancient Borgallo pass, an historical point of conjunction between Liguria, Val di Taro and Lunigiana, once crossed by princes, military leaders and particularly pilgrims who wanted to reach the tomb of San Colombano in Bobbio. The route winds through the Brattello Forest, a big complex of pines, beeches, chestnuts and Turkey oaks. From here, head up to Monte Molinatico where you end up at Passo della Cisa, Lunigiana’s gateway for the Via Francigena.
Technical Data: From Passo dei Due Santi (1417 m asl) / Passo della Cisa (1032 m asl)SI L24 (Highlights -Borgallo pass and the Brattello Forest) - 24.7 km - Positive difference in height 607 m, Negative difference in height 1001 m.
Starting from Zum Zeri, you easily reach the ancient Borgallo pass, an historical point of conjunction between Liguria, Val di Taro and Lunigiana, once crossed by princes, military leaders and particularly pilgrims who wanted to reach the tomb of San Colombano in Bobbio. The route winds through the Brattello Forest, a big complex of pines, beeches, chestnuts and Turkey oaks. From here, head up to Monte Molinatico where you end up at Passo della Cisa, Lunigiana’s gateway for the Via Francigena.
Technical Data: From Passo dei Due Santi (1417 m asl) / Passo della Cisa (1032 m asl)SI L24 (Highlights -Borgallo pass and the Brattello Forest) - 24.7 km - Positive difference in height 607 m, Negative difference in height 1001 m.
- straighten
Lunghezza tappa24.7 km
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DifficultyHiking Trail
- schedule
Duration1 day
- trending_down
Descent1001 m
- trending_up
Ascent607 m
For the second stage you start from Passo della Cisa, the gateway of the Via Francigena in Tuscany, heading towards Monte Valoria, which is a site of recent archaeological analysis where traces of Roman passages have been found. These mountain passes have been used since time immemorial, crossed by military leaders, merchants and pilgrims. Among the most famous, Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury travelling from Rome to England, who marked all the stages of his journey in a travel journal that today corresponds to the official route of the Via Francigena. Taking easy walking paths and crossing alpine prairies you reach Passo del Cirone, the Monte Tavola meadows and a croassroad leading to Lago Santo and its refuge, one of the most delightful in Lunigiana.
Technical data: from Passo della Cisa (1032 m) to the crossroad of Lago Santo Parmense (1583 m asl) - SI L23 - (Highlight - The Sentiero Italia meets the Via Francigena) –16.1 km - Positive difference in height 727 m, Negative difference in height 181 m.
For the second stage you start from Passo della Cisa, the gateway of the Via Francigena in Tuscany, heading towards Monte Valoria, which is a site of recent archaeological analysis where traces of Roman passages have been found. These mountain passes have been used since time immemorial, crossed by military leaders, merchants and pilgrims. Among the most famous, Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury travelling from Rome to England, who marked all the stages of his journey in a travel journal that today corresponds to the official route of the Via Francigena. Taking easy walking paths and crossing alpine prairies you reach Passo del Cirone, the Monte Tavola meadows and a croassroad leading to Lago Santo and its refuge, one of the most delightful in Lunigiana.
Technical data: from Passo della Cisa (1032 m) to the crossroad of Lago Santo Parmense (1583 m asl) - SI L23 - (Highlight - The Sentiero Italia meets the Via Francigena) –16.1 km - Positive difference in height 727 m, Negative difference in height 181 m.
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Lunghezza tappa16.1 km
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DifficultyHiking Trail
- schedule
Duration1 day
- trending_down
Descent181
- trending_up
Ascent727
The trail continues following the Apennine ridge, where you can still find wild horses living within open grass areas and their pastures, surrounded by beech and chestnut woods, blueberry and raspberry meadowsto the Rifugio Pratospilla. Along the entire stage, there are numerous possibilities for detours following the various paths of the Apennine National Park that lead downstream towards the valleys, such as the Via Longobarda or the Via dei Linari.
Technical data: from the crossroads of Lago Santo Parmense (1583 m asl) to Pratospilla (1354 m asl) – SI L22 (Highlights - The Tuscan Emilian National Park) - 13.2 km - Positive difference in height 489 m, negative difference in height 737 m.
The trail continues following the Apennine ridge, where you can still find wild horses living within open grass areas and their pastures, surrounded by beech and chestnut woods, blueberry and raspberry meadowsto the Rifugio Pratospilla. Along the entire stage, there are numerous possibilities for detours following the various paths of the Apennine National Park that lead downstream towards the valleys, such as the Via Longobarda or the Via dei Linari.
Technical data: from the crossroads of Lago Santo Parmense (1583 m asl) to Pratospilla (1354 m asl) – SI L22 (Highlights - The Tuscan Emilian National Park) - 13.2 km - Positive difference in height 489 m, negative difference in height 737 m.
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Lunghezza tappa13.2 km
-
DifficultyHiking Trail
- schedule
Duration1 day
- trending_down
Descent737
- trending_up
Ascent489
Short stage that can eventually be linked up with the following one. After passing the many lakes which characterise the Apennine ridge such as Lago Verde, Lago Ballano, Laghi del Sillara and Lago Martini, that find themselves in the heart of the regional park of the hundred lakes, setting out southwards from Pratospilla you end up reaching the beech forest and Lago Acuto with the beautiful Rifugio Città di Sarzana, stationed just below the summit of Monte Acuto.
Technical data: from Pratospilla (1354 m asl) to Rifugio Città di Sarzana (1609 m asl) - SI L21 (Highlights - Pastures and forests) 7.5 km - Positive difference in height 558 m, negative difference in height 305 m.
Short stage that can eventually be linked up with the following one. After passing the many lakes which characterise the Apennine ridge such as Lago Verde, Lago Ballano, Laghi del Sillara and Lago Martini, that find themselves in the heart of the regional park of the hundred lakes, setting out southwards from Pratospilla you end up reaching the beech forest and Lago Acuto with the beautiful Rifugio Città di Sarzana, stationed just below the summit of Monte Acuto.
Technical data: from Pratospilla (1354 m asl) to Rifugio Città di Sarzana (1609 m asl) - SI L21 (Highlights - Pastures and forests) 7.5 km - Positive difference in height 558 m, negative difference in height 305 m.
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Lunghezza tappa7.5 km
-
DifficultyHiking Trail
- schedule
DurationHalf-day
- trending_down
Descent305
- trending_up
Ascent558
From Rifugio Città di Sarzana, the walk starts heading up nearing the mountain ridge to redescend towards the glacial basin of the Ghiaccioni and the sources of the Secchia river. After having crossed various forests and encountered frequent traces of animals you arrive at Passo del Cerreto , defined as the Euro-Mediterranean border, the meeting point of numerous cultures and climates, where the panorama is now focused towards the stunning Apuan Alps and the sea at their back.
Technical data: from Rifugio Città di Sarzana (1609 m asl) to Passo del Cerreto (1245 m asl) - SI L20 (Highlights - between the Apennines and the Apuan Alps) - 8.1 km - Positive altitude difference 314 m, negative altitude difference 645 m.
From Rifugio Città di Sarzana, the walk starts heading up nearing the mountain ridge to redescend towards the glacial basin of the Ghiaccioni and the sources of the Secchia river. After having crossed various forests and encountered frequent traces of animals you arrive at Passo del Cerreto , defined as the Euro-Mediterranean border, the meeting point of numerous cultures and climates, where the panorama is now focused towards the stunning Apuan Alps and the sea at their back.
Technical data: from Rifugio Città di Sarzana (1609 m asl) to Passo del Cerreto (1245 m asl) - SI L20 (Highlights - between the Apennines and the Apuan Alps) - 8.1 km - Positive altitude difference 314 m, negative altitude difference 645 m.
- straighten
Lunghezza tappa8.1 km
-
DifficultyHiking Trail
- schedule
Duration1 day
- trending_down
Descent645
- trending_up
Ascent314