Lago di Gramolazzo

A beautiful ride of about 44 kilometers in the heart of Garfagnana with more than 65% of the route on dirt roads and magnificent views (Garfagnana, Apuan Alps and Apennines). We start our route from the small train at Piazza al Serchio. We reach Nicciano via a small path from San Michele and continue on the provincial road to Minucciano. After about 6 kilometers we turn right toward Castagnola, from which there is a truly impressive view of Lake Gramolazzo and the Apuan Alps.

By dirt road we reach Agliano in just over 1 kilometer and, past the bell tower of the Church of S. Maria Assunta, we take the forest road on the right. In 5 kilometers we reach Passo dei Carpinelli (m. 835 a.s.l.) and continue to Monte Argegna. From the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Guardia we soon reach the Tea Pass, which for centuries was the only passable crossing point to make the journey from Lucca to Parma. We return for a few meters to the main road that descends to Magliano and then take, at the height of a small chapel, the beautiful dirt road on the left that, in about 9.5 kilometers, climbs steadily by 7% and takes us to the Rifugio Monte Tondo (m. 1593). We have covered about 27 kilometers from the start.

After a nice restorative stop (kudos to the managers Angela and Tizzone) we return back along the usual dirt road to the crossroads located at an altitude of m. 1310 where we turn left for Ponteccio.We descend to Gragna and take the dirt road downhill to Castelletto. Having passed the Chiesina (small church) of the small hamlet, we turn left for Nipoiana and in about 2.5 kilometers we reach first Petrognola, a village famous for its artisanal spelt beer, then Sant'Anastasio. From here we descend by trail on the Garfagnana Regional Road and return to Piazza al Serchio.