Trekking in the Apennines
The Grande Escursione Appenninica
Trekking in the Apennines
The Grande Escursione Appenninica
Guidebook to the Grand Apennines Trek, or Grande Escursione Appenninica (GEA). Through Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna and 2 national parks, this 400km trail takes 23 days to complete, exploring the mountains, forests and hills of central Italy. Suitable for a range of walkers, it can be split into shorter sections or day walks if needed.A guidebook to trekking the Grande Escursione Appenninica (GEA), a 400km waymarked trail through Italy’s Appenine mountains. Extending from Bocca Trabaria to Passo Due Santi through the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, the route is straightforward and suitable for a broad range of trekkers, with walking on paths, forestry tracks and quiet lanes.
The GEA is presented in 23 day stages, graded by difficulty, of between 8 and 25km, with accommodation available at each stage end (though camping is also possible on some stages). With convenient access by public transport, it is also easy to walk a shorter section of the route.
- Route description illustrated with sketch mapping and elevation profiles
- Comprehensive notes on accommodation and facilities
- Peaks including Monte Prado (the highest peak in Tuscany)
- Advice on preparation and planning
- Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852847661
Availability
Published
Published
14 Jan 2016
Edition
Second
Pages
160
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.00cm
Weight
180g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
CONTENTS
Map key
Overview map
Introduction
The Apennines
The GEA trek
Highlights and shorter walks
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
Getting there
Local transport
When to go
Accommodation
Food and drink
What to take
Maps
Emergencies
Using this guide
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 Due Santi
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Italian–English glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Background reading
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
p129 The village of Rigoso now has a lovely community run B&B Corte di Rigoso www.cortedirigoso.it
August 2021
Stage 5
Rifugio Città di Forlì is closed for the time being. Luckily comfortable accommodation is available at nearby Locanda Chalet della Burraia (www.chaletburraia.it Tel 0543/980006 – Cell. 335/6565764). From the rifugio take the lane E downhill to the Locanda. 10min should suffice.
October 2018
Updates
Stage 7:
The Mugello authorities have cleared the paths from near Colla della Maestà all the way to Colla di Casaglia as well as
Stage 10: the entire stretch from Passo del Giogo to Passo della Futa.
Sept 2018
it is stage 7 and 10 that are seriously overgrown in places - not Stages 4 and 5 as stated below. add at least 2 hours to each day.
Aug 2018
Stage 1: The road to the start of the trek is closed about 3km from Bocca Trabaria due to a land slip and there is no bus for the time being. It's possible to get a taxi from Sansepolcro to near the collapse and then walk to the start. (Road repairs are due to start soon - completion approx Nov 2018).
Stages 4 and 5 are seriously overgrown in places - add at least 2 hours to each day.
(Thanks to Graham Shorrock)
July 2018
Stage 4 :Sections between Chiusi della Verna and Badia Prataglia + stage 5 : San Godenzo (Passo Muraglione) to Colla di Casaglia are reportedly blocked by fallen trees, requiring scrambling to get around. Some trails are overgrown with brambles and tall ferns, and rife with ticks.
Stage 7: Colla di Casaglia - the Locanda no longer offers accommodation but a resto/hotel will pick up walkers, give them a room and meals and drop them off at the trailhead next morning: Le Spiagge Albergo Ristorante, Loc. Alpe-Palazzuolo sul Senio. tel. 055812281; cell 3393863056.
(Thanks to Ricia Gordon and William Dixon)
Oct 2017
p120 Lovely Albergo Carpe Diem at Passo di Pradarena at the end of Stage 18 has changed management and is now thankfully open once again:
tel 0522 899113 or mob 388 6471360, email: info@albergocarpediem.com
(Thanks to Barbara O)
August 2016
p72 Locanda della Colla www.locandadellacolla.it
Albergo Carpe Diem is currently closed. Stay at Rifugio Bargetana on the previous stage.
p141 Locanda degli Aceri is closed so go to the Ostello. Contact <>
via email forestalepassocisa@libero.it or phone: mobiles 328 8741814 or 347 4197674. The land line 0525 629072 no longer works.
p145 Zum Zeri website no longer works
(Thanks to Martin and Sue)<>
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