HomeItinerari Equi terme and the hermitage of Saint George
Equi terme and the hermitage of Saint George
The Lunigiana with its green mountains is a delightful environment for trekkers. From its many routes we are suggesting an itinerary which goes from the village of Equi terme, a splendid little place also known for its spa waters and karst phenomena, and climbs up into the woods as far as an old hermitage from which we can see the whole of the valley below.
Altre immagini
Località di partenza:
Regione Toscana, Provincia di Massa-Carrara, Fivizzano, Frazione Equi Terme
APT Massa Carrara - Alpi Apuane Settentrionali - carta dei sentieri, 1:25000 Multigraphic - Alpi Apuane carta dei sentieri e dei rifugi - 1:25000
Note:
How to get to Equi terme: Exit at Aulla on the Cisa motorway, from here
proceed in the direction of Fivizzano until you find signs on the right
for Equi terme and the Garfagnana at km11. Or from Carrara
proceed along the SP 446 as far as Fosdinovo and then along the SP 10
until you see signs. The town is also on the CAT bus route.
At the gates of Equi we find signposts that lead us along a climbing
path to the start of the route, in Prada, opposite a house. Here we
climb up into the chestnut forest and proceed along a paved mule-track.
On our right we can hear the noise of the turbulent waters of the
Lucido torrent and we soon reach an area of fir-trees; we have reached
the cemetery just outside the village of Aiola which we are approaching
on our left. We cross the old village, cross a bridge and pass a
washing trough, and then proceed along via Baracca. When we reach
the church we go up a flight of steps near the building and we find the
mule-track again on our right, just outside the village. We continue,
along a series of bends that climb the mountainside. It is very steep
but the path is good so we keep a good pace. After about a quarter of
an hour we reach a turn-off for the ruins of Castellaccio where we go
straight on, without turning off, still climbing fairly steeply. Above
us we see a group of rocks and we pass in the middle of them, walking
briefly along the slope that has just appeared. We leave the slope
returning to the previous path and go on to tackle another two small
rocky promontories that await us. When we arrive here, we walk along
the mountain side, through the beech trees that have replaced the
chestnut trees, looking over the Vinca valley, cutting across the
hillside that is not quite so steep. Twenty minutes later we arrive at
a lovely plateau where there is an old stone house with benches where
we can sit down and enjoy the magnificent views of the surrounding
mountains. Just beyond the house there is a water fountain. At the
beginning of this area we see signs pointing towards Saint George’s
Hermitage and we walk towards it. This is a 400-metre section that
first of all descends before arriving at a series of rocks we must
climb up before coming out onto a much easier mule-track that leads to
the clearing in front of the hermitage. Ruins are all that is left of
the building, but in the past it was famous and was an important
monastery. It was founded in 1604 which is relatively recent for these
ancient places. The view we have from this fascinating place fully
rewards our fatigue in reaching it. After our stop we go back to the
last turn-off, at the stone house. From here we can reach the village
of Vinca, passing the Maestà with the same name, or we can return to
Equi along the route we took on the way up.
This itinerary is
part of a collection that the magazine “Trekking”, together with the
APT (Provincial Tourist Authority) of the Tuscan Coast, has dedicated
to the most beautiful trekking routes in this area. A series of
itineraries that will help you discover lovely places and will
introduce you to a district that has great environmental and cultural
appeal.
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