Rocca Canavese - Testa Brusà

First asphalt section, just outside Rocca Canavese towards Corio turn right for Madonna della Neve, 3.5 km of asphalt and 250 meters elevation gain. Now begins on dirt and asphalt sections the hardest part, average gradient 20% for about a km. After 5 km and 500 meters of elevation gain I arrive at Madonna della Neve, built in 1673, over the centuries it was reference of the inhabitants of Rocca, Forno and Levone, currently it is administered by the latter municipality. At 6.5 km and almost 600 meters elevation gain here is the Chapel of the Bandit, is from the same period as Madonna della Neve, and wanted by the municipalities of Corio, Rocca and Levone to ward off natural disasters. The 417 marker for Testa Brusà begins, distinguished by the presence of gorse, endemic to the acid, arid and sunny soils. After 10 km and 950 meters of elevation gain I arrive near the destination, the last stretch would be walkable only on ascent and descent.

Descent: the first stretch is the bike-backed part of the ascent, then there is a path overgrown with grasses, continue a short stretch on a mule track and turn left on 417a with long traverses in the woods, after 5 km from the beginning of the descent I arrive at Madonna della neve. With marker 462 you return to Rocca, the most beautiful part is marked Rocca mtb, with some hairpin bends even steep ones on a compact bottom, always in the woods.

Madonna della Neve Chapel

Chapel of the Bandit

Near Testa Brusà

Rocca Canavese