Hidden gems 1

Hidden gems 1

A circular walk from Madonna dei Colli via Piano di Collecchia

The area between Moncigoli, Soliera, Rometta, Serricciolo and Piano di Collecchia contains a plethora of interesting tracks and paths that can be used to create excellent leisurely circular walks or combined into longer excursions. The high and narrow lane that winds from Madonna dei Colli to Serricciolo via Collecchia is the feature that joins this series of walks together. The walk described here makes use of this lane to reach an ancient track that winds its way down to Piano di Collecchia to pick up the Via del Volto Santo back to the start point.

Walk summary

Grade: LeisurelyLength: 4km
Circular? YesDuration: 1h
Start: N44.21363º E10.05953ºFinish: Same
Max elevation: 266mMin elevation: 141m
Total ascent: 135mTotal descent: 135m

Equivalent flat distance: 5.069km — multiply this number by the flat distance walking pace (min./km) of the slowest walker for a better estimate of walk duration. NB: see my article on estimating walk durations.

Route map with elevation profile and downloadable GPS track

Download a GPX track for this walk: Download GPX track

Detailed description

The start and finish point for this walk is the ex-convent and sanctuary of Madonna dei Colli that can be found at the junction of three quiet lanes that serve Soliera, Collecchia, and Pratolungo, respectively. There is plenty of space to park, particularly along the lane to Collecchia side of the convent.

From the convent, follow the steeply ascending lane towards Collecchia, passing a stand of bamboo on the right and ignoring an enticing track on your left. The lane eventually starts to level out where some olive groves and a barn can be seen on the left with far-reaching views of the Alpi Apuane behind. A little further still and the lane levels out completely to cross a grassy plateau and olive groves on both sides of the road. Ignore another dirt track on the left and continue along the lane, which soon rises again. Follow the lane around a righthand bend, ignoring yet another track on the left by a small storage compound. Again, the lane levels out and, as it starts to descend, you will have fine views of the village of Collecchia to you left and will soon find a clear dirt track on the righthand side opposite a row of tall cypresses. Take the track. At this point you are 1km from the start.

After a short distance, take the lefthand fork and, soon afterwards, the next lefthand fork. When you reach the next fork, stay left again and keep to the obvious track passing a beautiful olive grove on you right to a junction. Ignore the track into the olive grove and turn left to go steeply downhill, turning right at the foot of the hill to follow the track all the way down to the outskirts of Piano di Collecchia. At this point you are 2.15km from the start. If you want to explore the village, take the left fork that continues to descend, otherwise, take the right fork uphill to arrive at a large house. Turn right onto the Via del Volto Santo and follow it all the way back to the start and finish point. There are regular blue paint marks on the trees to aid navigation. If you detoured to explore the village, you will soon see the blue VVS (Via del Volto Santo) way-marks, which can be followed to pass through an arch in the house mentioned above.

Gallery

Grass, forest, mountains, sky

Image 5 of 20

Apuan alps from the road to Collecchia

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Nigel Fawcett

One of the many benefits of being retired is that I get to spend so much more time in the great outdoors, not only as a photographer but in exercising one of my other great passions — hill walking. This is a particularly good fit when one’s photography centres around nature and the landscape. There can be few better places to do that than here in the beautiful mountains of Tuscany.