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There are many itinerares starting from Reggello by which you can discoverd wonderfull forests and fantastic views on the valdarno valley. Some itineraries are only for trekker many others are also for bykers. Others itineraries starting from the forest of Vallombrosa located at 15 Km from Reggello. In this page you find few exampels. To know more it is enough to ask to the owner. Before you start is advised to carry a map trail.
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The forest of Vallombrosa
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The forest of Vallombrosa is one of the most pleasant places where to wander even on the hottest summer days: the altitude and the thickness of its woods guarantee excellent walking possibilities. During wintertime, warm waterproofs clothes are essential and it is recommended to watch the weather forecasts. With the snow in winter it is very beautiful to walk in these woods with the snowshoes. |
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The straight path to monte Secchieta
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The 500 meter elevation gain between the Abbey of Vallombrosa (958 m) and the summit of Monte Secchieta (1418 m) are covered by a steep path, suitable for fit walkers only. From the back of the Abbey, take path CAI 9. Initially, this path follows the old “Holy Steps”, the old pilgrimage itinerary to the Hermitage of the paradisino, after reaching two chapels (S. Giovanni Gualberto’s Rock and the Chapel of the columns).
After crossing a tarred road in the vicinity of a source, the path gets steeper and steeper through fir first and beech woodland later, eventually reaching the mountain hut Giuntini. To return, if you are not short of time, we recommend to take Itinerary 1 which allows to complete a loop through the forest. |
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This easygoing walk, along a forestry road, is waymarked as CAI 12. From Vallombrosa, take the downhill road towards Saltino, until the Chapel and Fountain of S. Caterina: from here a wide forestry road branches off. Follow this road keeping the left, first amidst conifers and then beech woodland, which is particularly suggestive after a snowfall.
The route passes by a house, named Macinaia (1313 m); from here the forestry road to the forest of S. Antonio branches off. Do not take the latter and continue uphill, till you meet the road along the ridge, quickly leading to the mountain hut “Giuntini””, on Monte Secchieta (1418 m). The summit of Monte Secchieta (1452 m) is military zone and can not be accessed.
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| The forest of St. Antonio |
The forest of St. Antonio is a protected area formally belonging to the Regione Toscana but managed by the Comunità Montana della Montagna Fiorentina.
the Forest
The forest spreads out over an area of about 900 hectares, between 600 and 1490 meters of altitude, on the slopes above the village of Reggello.
The beech is the most common tree, followed by the chestnut, Turkey oak and hornbeam. There also are some reforestations with Douglas firs, white and red firs and Austrian pines.
There is also a wide variety of botanic species: campanula pesicifolia, Dianthus balbisii, martagons and some orchids (Orchis maculata, Orchis mascula and Orchis sambucina).
The foot paths
There are some 18 km of waymarked footpaths stretching through the forest, leading to even longer itineraries towards both Vallombrosa and the top of Pratomagno or the valley of the Casentino.
The Comunità Montana della Montagna Fiorentina has equipped several rest areas and is transforming several old buildings into modern mountain huts. The most interesting of them is at Case S. Antonio, 930 meters above sea-level.
A selected Itinerary
Among the several feasible itineraries, we'd like to recommend this panoramic tour, hard but with breathtaking views. It is not recommended during the hottest months of the Summer, the best seasons being Spring and Autumn.
The hike takes about 5-7 hours, with an elevation gain of about 1000 meters.
From the centre of Reggello (395 m), head towards Pontifogno along path CAI 15 on an old cobblestone road. Proceed without any elevation gain till you meet the hamlet of Lavana, pass it and take path CAI 14A. The path turns steep, as it quickly takes you from about 600 metres to the height of the 1071 meters of the Poggio Massa Nera, from where the view is really breathtaking.
The itinerary now follows path CAI 14 along the ridge, sometimes along forestry roads. At a hairpin bend (1298 m) go back onto the path and, along the mountain side called "Malpasso", you finally get to a place called “Capanna delle Guardie” (1360 m), the highest point of the hike. You can now walk downhill back towards Case S. Antonio (973 m) along path CAI 15.
There are now two options: either the quick descent along path CAI 15 which follows the valley of the “Borro di S. Antonio” or a longer detour (the path has no number) along a forestry road to Massa Falco first (panorama) and then along a footpath leading to Fornace di S. Antonio, the waterfalls at Meriggioni, the charcoal pits at Masino and the valley of the “Borro delle fornaci”. The longer detour is not recommended in case of bad weather. Both options will eventually lead back to path CAI 15 and back to the starting point. |
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