Itinerary in the Sassi di Roccamalatina Park between nature and history

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Itinerary in the Sassi di Roccamalatina Park between nature and history

TERRE DI CASTELLI trekking 053

The route is located within the Sassi di Roccamalatina Regional Park and coincides with a historic road, the Romea-Nonantolana road, one of the most important pilgrimage routes that descended from northern Europe to Rome in medieval times.

The circular route starts from the Pieve di Trebbio, an ancient Romanesque church near the ‘il Fontanazzo’ Park Visitor Centre, crosses the spectacular landscape of the Sassi di Roccamalatina, encounters ancient mill remains along the banks of the Rio Tregenda and Rio delle Vallecchie, enters the ancient fortified village of Castellino delle Formiche and concludes by returning to the car park.

The route takes a full day and allows you to observe the spectacular rocky morphology of the Sassi di Roccamalatina by circumventing them on all sides.

Some sections provide specific variants for pedestrians only. In some stretches on asphalt roads and cart tracks, the trail is also signposted as a cycle path and horses and bicycles are permitted. The signposting refers to route No. 3 of the Sassi di Roccamalatina Regional Park with a variant on route No. 1 to Castellino delle Formiche.

The complete route also includes the ascent to the Sasso della croce, from where a spectacular landscape can be admired.

Stages

  • pieve
    Pieve di Trebbio

    From Pieve di Trebbio, take path no. 3 marked with vertical signs, proceed for 150 m on an asphalted road then, near the car park, ascend along a gravel road.

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  • img borgosassi
    Rocca di sotto

    We pass through Rocca di Sotto, where there is a private residential area, then climb up towards Rocca di Sopra (altitude 513 m.) until we reach Borgo dei Sassi, where there is a fountain with drinking water, public toilets, the Borgo dei Sassi visitor centre and path no. 4 (for a fee) for the ascent to Sasso della Croce.

  • mulino della riva
    Mulino della Riva

    Continue along track no. 3 and you will come across the reconstruction of a small Charcoal Kiln with a charcoal burner's dwelling until you reach the picnic area near the Mulino della Riva (altitude 382 m), equipped with tables, benches and a barbecue.

  • castellino formiche
    Castellino delle formiche

    Track No. 1 continues until it reaches Castellino delle Formiche, a small medieval jewel with a fortress built on a rocky outcrop and a wonderful view of the Sassi.

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  • mulino delle vellecchie
    Sant'Apollonia

    We leave track no. 1, which continues to Samone, and return to track no. 3, a stretch of asphalt road about 1.4 km long. We come to the locality of Sant'Apollonia, where there is a beautiful view of the western slope of the Sassi di Roccamalatina.

  • rastelli
    Mulino delle Vallecchie

    Once you leave the tarmac road to continue to the right on a cart track through fields and woods, you reach the Mulino delle Vallecchie where there is a refreshment point. From there, we go along a short asphalted stretch of 100 m. then back onto the footpath that climbs to Pieve di Trebbio at a distance of 1.3 km with a climb of 177 m, then through the village of Ca' Rastelli and back to the starting point.

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