Sentiero Italia in Lunigiana

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.