Resceto
(485m) - Finestra Vandelli (1450m) - Passo della Tambura (1620m) - Vagli
di Sopra (725m)
The route combines natural landscape interest and
the thrill of walking along an eighteenth century road, one which was
so difficult and rough that it became impossible to travel along just
a few years after it was inaugurated.
Starting from Resceto, walk along the road which passes above the church
and goes along a tree-lined ridge. Leaving to your left CAI footpath no.
170 (which climbs to Vettolina) you reach the Casetta del Fondo. Then,
having crossed a second ridge, you get to a junction: on the left, footpath
no. 166 climbs towards the Passo della Focolaccia while the Via Vandelli
(footpath no. 35), which has recently been having some maintenance done
to it, is to the right. Take this path, which climbs steadily and has
numerous bends: at 1250 metres, the dark colour of the rocks marks the
presence of the ferrous mineral hematite. Two hundred metres higher up
you come to the Finestra Vandelli (the Vandelli window) which is cut into
the crest and has a wide stretch of meadow where a tin shed acts as a
permanently open refuge. Continuing onwards amidst large dolomitic rocks
you come to the Rifugio Nello Conti (for information about when it is
open, contact the C.A.I. of Massa, tel. 0585/488 081).
Retrace your steps to the Vandelli window, and climb gently to the Passo
della Tambura (there is a spring in the meadow just a little bit below
it), and then drop down towards the valley along path no. 35 which passes
the remains of Casone, and after a number of bends, joins path no. 31.
Following this path to the left you pass Arnetola and finally, having
crossed a wide valley where there are lots of marble quarries, you arrive
at Vagli di Sopra.
Access |
Resceto is approximately 10km by car from
Massa. There is also a bus from Massa (CAT bus line, tel. 0585/41030).
Vagli di Sopra is about 10km from state road no. 445, and is between
Castelnuovo Garfagnana and Piazza al Serchio (CLAP bus line, tel.
0583/62039). The local railway station is Poggio-Careggine-Vagli on
the Aulla-Lucca line). |
Time required |
6 hours |
Difference in height |
1130 m |
Difficulty |
E |
Maps |
S.EL.CA. scale 1:25,000 accompanying the
book - Garfagnana Trekking Multigraphic - Alpi Apuane |
Characteristics |
Characteristics: unpaved roads and mule
tracks |
Best season |
Spring and autumn |
|