Between the mountains and the sea: Carrara and Mount Brugiana

This route winds through the chestnut forests of Mount Bandita and Mount Brugiana, calling for great physical exertion on the long uphill stretches to then enjoy the thrill of technical and adrenaline-fueled descents.

Setting out from Carrara, near the Stadium and the Museum of Marble in Carrara. Briefly take Viale XX Settembre before immediately diverging in the direction of Fontia, for a long digression on the left that takes you close to the border with Liguria and to an altitude of 1640 feet (500 meters). From here, begin the first steep downhill run that leads up to the fascinating ruins of the Castello di Moneta before finally leading back to Viale XX Settembre.

Hang a left towards the historic town of Carrara where a visit to the Cathedral is certainly worth the detour! Next, begin the climb towards Codena and Bergiola then continue along the slopes of Mount Brugiana, until reaching an altitude of 2414 feet (736 meters).

Here you get to the longest and steepest descent of the day that will see you lose over 1640 feet (500 meters) of elevation gain in over just 1.2 miles (2 kilometers).

On the way down, worth a stop are the Parco della Resistenza (Resistance Park) and the Sacrario ai Caduti of Mount Brugiana, a memorial dedicated to the massacres carried out here by the Nazis during World War II.

Continue your descent until reaching the gates of Massa, perhaps even taking a short detour to visit the town or even for a well-deserved food stop.

On the last stretch, enjoying crossing the hills that separate you from Carrara to return to your starting point, happy to have explored the more authentic side of the Apuan hills.