At Logarghena Meadows, Apennine mountain pastures

We leave from Piazza Italia, in Pontremoli, proceed in the direction of the historic center and cross the two bridges until we reach the Strada Statale 62 della Cisa. When we arrive on the state road, we go up to the Capuchin monastery, hospice of the Via Francigena, and climb to the beautiful village of Arzengio.

Past Arzengio, at km 5, a more challenging dirt climb begins that leads us up to the Crocetta Pass with a small chapel in the middle of the woods. From here we ride on a section of the Via Francigena coming from the Cisa Pass and then again uphill on a road that is first paved and then dirt, which will allow us to reach the Logarghena meadows at the highest altitude of the route at 988 meters above sea level.

From here to Pontremoli it will be all downhill; after 4 km we return again to the Crocetta Pass, where there are two different possibilities in reaching again the village of Arzengio. The more experienced will be able to turn left and descend on the steep and technical descent of the Via Crucis, while the less experienced continuing on the main road will reach Arzengio without any problem.

The last stretch toward Pontremoli is a section of the Via Francigena that is taken near the cemetery of Arzengio and allows views of the town and valley from above.

The route is part of the Lunigiana Bike Area and is fully marked with yellow and black arrows and the number 14. For more information: www.lunigianabikearea.com.