Discover Italy’s best-kept secret, the Grande Escursione Appenninica (GEA), a spectacular 400km (249 mile) long-distance trail traversing the rugged, panoramic ridges and forested valleys of the central and northern Apennines. Linking Bocca Trabaria on the Umbrian border to Passo Due Santi on the edge of Liguria, the GEA winds through the heart of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, crossing two National Parks and visiting ancient towns, crystal-clear lakes, and the highest peaks, including Monte Prado, the summit of Tuscany.

This comprehensive Cicerone guide describes the GEA in 23 daily stages (8–25km each), with clear stage gradings, distance, elevation profiles, and estimated walking times. Thanks to excellent public transport links along the route, the GEA can be tackled as a classic three-week trek or enjoyed in shorter, flexible sections, perfect for walkers with limited time or those seeking a taste of Apennine adventure.

• Follow the GEA along waymarked mountain paths, forestry tracks, and quiet rural lanes through the unspoilt landscapes of the Apennines, rich with wildlife, wildflowers, and panoramic Mediterranean views, far from the crowds and deep in authentic Italian countryside.
• Each stage concludes in an Apennine town or village, offering comfortable guesthouses, alpine refuges, or camping, with comprehensive notes on local accommodation, food, and facilities along the GEA.
• Plan your journey through the Apennines for the ideal season, with guidance on trail conditions, weather, and why July–August is the best time for reliable walking and open services on the GEA.
• Benefit from detailed information boxes for every GEA stage, covering start and finish points, distances, elevation changes, terrain, estimated times, grade (1–3), and transport, making Apennine route planning simple.
• Access practical tips on preparation, packing, navigation, safety, and the unique highlights of each GEA section, plus an English–Italian glossary to support your trek across the Apennines.
• Delve into the history, wildlife, flora, food, and culture of the Apennines, with dedicated guidebook sections introducing the region’s rich heritage and natural wonders found along the GEA.
• Navigate the Apennines with confidence using clear sketch maps and elevation profiles for each GEA stage, as well as summary tables for flexible itinerary planning and suggested 1–3 day highlight walks.

Set out on an unforgettable journey along the Grande Escursione Appenninica with Cicerone’s expert guidebook, and immerse yourself in the wild beauty, timeless charm, and hidden trails of Italy’s mountainous spine.

Grande Escursione Appenninica (GEA) – Quick Facts

Location: Central and northern Apennines, Italy, from Bocca Trabaria (Umbria/Marche border) to Passo Due Santi (Liguria/Tuscany/Emilia-Romagna border)
Route covered: Entire 400km GEA, divided into 23 day stages through Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, including Monte Prado and two National Parks
Typical trek length: 23 days for the full route, with shorter 1–3 day highlight sections also described (8–25km per stage)
Trail type: Waymarked mountain paths, forestry tracks, and quiet rural lanes (single or multi-day options)
Terrain: Panoramic ridges, wooded slopes, forested valleys, ancient towns, lakes, and peaks up to 2054m
Accommodation: Comfortable guesthouses, alpine refuges, and camping at stage ends
Navigation & mapping: Sketch maps, elevation profiles, and detailed stage information; public transport access points
Best season: Summer (July–August) for stable weather and open accommodation; spring and autumn also possible with some limitations
Highlights: Stunning Apennine views, wildlife, wildflowers, local cuisine, historic villages, flexible stage options, and quiet trekking far from tourist crowds

Author Highlight

“The mountainous Apennines, without a doubt, are Italy’s best-kept secret. Forming the rugged spine of the slender Italian peninsula, they seem to provide support as it ventures out into the Mediterranean. For walkers this glorious elongated range provides thousands of kilometres of marked walking trails over stunning panoramic ridges and stupendous forested valleys, touching on quiet rural communities little affected by mass tourism. Dotted throughout are historic sanctuaries, hospitable mountain inns, national parks and nature reserves home to wildlife and marvellous wildflowers…"

- Gillian Price, author of Trekking in the Apennines

Contents

Map key
Overview map

Introduction
The GEA trek
The Apennines
Highlights and short walks
Plants and flowers
Animal life
Getting there
Local transport
Tourist information
When to go
Accommodation
Food and drink
What to take
Maps
Emergencies
How to use this guide
Dos and don'ts
Background reading

The GEA

Stage 1    Bocca Trabaria to Passo di Viamaggio
Stage 2    Passo di Viamaggio to Caprese Michelangelo
Stage 3    Caprese Michelangelo to La Verna
Stage 4    La Verna to Badia Prataglia
Stage 5    Badia Prataglia to Rifugio Città di Forlì
Stage 6    Rifugio Città di Forlì to Passo del Muraglione
Stage 7    Passo del Muraglione to Colla di Casaglia
Stage 8    Colla di Casaglia to Badia Moscheta
Stage 9    Badia Moscheta to Passo del Giogo
Stage 10    Passo del Giogo to Passo della Futa
Stage 11    Passo della Futa to Montepiano
Stage 12    Montepiano to Rifugio Pacini
Stage 13    Rifugio Pacini to Pracchia
Stage 14    Pracchia to Lago Scaffaiolo
Stage 15    Lago Scaffaiolo to Boscolungo
Stage 16    Boscolungo to Lago Santo Modenese
Stage 17    Lago Santo Modenese to Passo delle Radici
Stage 18    Passo delle Radici to Passo di Pradarena
Stage 19    Passo di Pradarena to Passo del Cerreto
Stage 20    Passo del Cerreto to Prato Spilla
Stage 21    Prato Spilla to Lago Santo Parmense
Stage 22    Lago Santo Parmense to Passo della Cisa
Stage 23    Passo della Cisa to Passo dei Due Santi

Appendix A    Route summary
Appendix B    Italian–English glossary
Appendix C    Useful contacts
 

Seasons

spring through to autumn: late June-September fits best with accommodation availability in the central section

Centres

Abetone, Arezzo, Bibbiena, Bologna, Parma, Pieve Pelago, Pistoia, Pontremoli, Porretta Terme, Prato, Reggio Emilia, Sansepolcro

Difficulty

no special experience needed: any fit walker can embark on this route, and there are plenty of short sections, making the route perfect for bespoke walking holidays. The few moderately exposed stretches can always be detoured

Must See

the Casentino National Park and Franciscan sanctuaries; the WW2 Gothic line; open ridges on the northern stretch; alpine-style lakes in the Apennines National Park; Monte Prado, Tuscany's highest peak (2054m); magnificent beech woods; alpine flowers

July 2023

Rigoso B&B

August 2021

Stage 5

October 2018

Updates

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