From monumental trees to the pilgrims' way

It is a very challenging itinerary, perhaps the most demanding in the entire National Park. In particular, the stretch from the Serra locality to the pass of the same name runs along an old mule track (about 3 km) that is bumpy and not cyclable, with long stretches to be done by hand bike. E-bikes are therefore not recommended because of the weight to push in this stretch.

As soon as we leave the village of Badia Prataglia (a visit to the ancient Abbey and its crypt is recommended) we take a right along the Provincial Road Val di Corezzo, following the signs for La Verna and Rimbocchi.

We continue for a little more than 3 kilometers until we take another junction to the right, in the direction of Frassineta, to which we arrive greeted by its beautiful stone church. After this basically elevated section, the road becomes unpaved and begins to climb, overcoming a hundred meters of elevation gain before plunging towards the valley floor of Val di Corezzo, in the village of Rimbocchi. We pass the village and take a left, following the signs for Serra - Biforco.

The route follows a cart track that cuts the first five hairpin bends of the road: those who want to save energy for the next climb can then opt to follow the pavement. After 1.6 kilometers from the beginning of the climb we take a left towards Serra, the last hamlet that we reach in another 3 kilometers. Here the road ends and begins (we are at an altitude of 800 meters) the cart track that will become increasingly challenging and bumpy, so much so that we will most likely have to descend and push our bikes by hand until the 1110 meters of altitude of the Serra Pass.

The most is done: the trail continues remaining substantially at altitude, skirting the Tuscan-Emilian border until the Mandrioli pass. At the pass the trail begins to descend and after less than two kilometers we cross the road from which we started, which we take turning right for the last stretch that takes us back to Badia Prataglia.

The historical interest is considerable since this is the route once traveled by pilgrims on their way to La Verna and then to Rome, and the route is certainly worth the extra effort, also because of the beauty of the environment, among meadows and beech forests. After all, monumental trees - from the horse chestnuts of Frassineta to the rowan and turkey oaks of the Fatucchio Farm - dot the entire route.