First day, Monday

Abetone, nestled in the heart of the northern Apennines, between the provinces of Pistoia and Modena, once a destination for travelers on horseback who were forced to cross it to spend the night at the “Vecchia Posta” before resuming their journey.

Abetone, a small and cheerful village, where you can find a little peace, especially when you go … in the mountains. So why not start with an easy and regenerating walk up to the “Fountain” of Mount Maiori?

From the Lo Chalet bar near the Pyramids, take the first road on the right and at the junction turn right again. It takes about an hour and a half (round trip), walking with a regular step, on a dirt road, flat or slightly uphill, flanked by firs (white fir) and blackberry and raspberry brambles.

Along the way you can also stop on the many wooden benches to rest in the shade of fresh beech trees.

After lunch, in the afternoon, take a walk up to the Passo dell’Abetone, (500 meters from our hotel), various shops displaying local products and the underwood will suggest a gift idea to bring to friends and relatives who stayed at home.

Fluctuat, Abetone – Piramidi1, CC BY-SA 3.0

Second day, Tuesday

If you are willing to do 10 km. By car (round trip) to see the most beautiful beech forest of the Apennines along the state road 12 in the direction of Pistoia and in Fontana Vaccaia, just after the hamlet of the Queens, on the right you find the junction for Pian di Novello.

In La Casetta (right on the hairpin bend before the village of Pian di Novello) park on the right and start your walk, slightly uphill at the beginning but shortly after the road degrades and flattens.

You will go along a road at the beginning paved and then dirt surrounded by a beautiful beech forest and the brightness that give the environment will be the first thing that will surprise you.

Small fountains, built by the Corpo Forestale workers, in pietra serena, will be ideal for cooling off, the tiny houses you will see here and there on beech trees are inhabited by bats; but do not be afraid of the day sleep and various signs scattered along the path will explain how it lives this small mammal (protected species).

It will take about an hour and a half (round trip) to get to the first refuge (Rifugio Lagacciolo) a small construction of wood and stone, built by the Forestry Corps and where you will find yet another fountain!

In the afternoon, do 200 meters. on foot, in the direction of Pistoia, just after the bridge over the river Lima, turn right, leave on the left the Headquarters of the Forestry Corps, you will find a fork, go right and you will be immersed in a fresh and bright wood, the so-called “Viale Regina” Daisy”; follow it until you reach the Municipality of Abetone; round trip takes 40 minutes, the climb is gentle and you get the feeling of getting lost; but do not worry you are a few hundred meters from the state road.

Arrived in the square of the City you can decide whether to go to the right and go down in the main square of the town or continue the walk to the left, take the Via del Pescinone, bordered by pretty houses, great ski champion, Zeno Colò, and where still lives today wife, Mrs. Laura, who, if you are lucky enough to find her at home, will host you showing you the trophies of the great Zeno.

Continue then to intersect one of the historic slopes of Abetone “La Riva” where in years gone by, 1940/1950, trained the greatest skiers of Abetone: Celina Seghi (called Mickey for his speed), Gualtiero Petrucci, Vittorio Chierroni and of course Zeno.

Cross the track and reach “Villa Larici”. The journey from the Town Hall is easy and takes about half an hour (round trip).

Gianmarco L95, Monte Libro Aperto, CC BY-SA 3.0

Third day, Wednesday

If you liked the walk up to the “Fountain”, today, you can retrace it and backpack on your shoulder, continue until the “Casetta di Lapo”, a small and charming refuge, managed by the “Monte Gomito” Ski School and where, Boris, is always available to give you some further information.

ATTENCTION: The route from the Fontana to the Casetta di Lapo includes some short climbs; about half way, just where the path narrows you can see on the left a beautiful plant of “Beautiful Woman” with black berries and shiny, admire it but do not touch it, used in medicine, it is poisonous for us. A little further on you will be able to admire the centuries-old firs, very tall and straight, of which you will struggle to see the top; you will feel a strong scent of resin that larches fir and pine give off in the air.

To get to the Casetta di Lapo it will take about three hours (round trip), but when you reach the destination you will have a beautiful view, you will be at the foot of Mount Open Book and you can admire all “their”, (the peaks are two) majesty.

The meadows around are full of fragrant juniper bushes, huge daisies called “Carline”, numerous small and tiny flowers and colorful butterflies.

In the afternoon take the car (direction Pistoia) and after two kilometers, on the left you will find a small church, parked in the Vittorio Chierroni square, and set off towards the “Secchia”, a paved road surrounded by greenery, after about one km.

on the right you will find a sign indicating where the biggest Spruce of the Apennines is located, descend for about one hundred meters; you will find it high and imposing there; now try to hug him, all together, you will feel like you are in the arms of a good bear!

Fourth day, Thursday

Did you know that the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines are full of small and tiny ponds? If you want to see at least one, we suggest a trip to “Val di Luce” (or Valle delle Pozze),

Crossing the Abetone Pass, in the direction of Modena, take the state road 12 (5 km) to the hamlet of Faidello and at the Hotel K2 (on the right) you will find a fork on the left that indicates the Val di Luce.

After about 4 km you will arrive in the valley, where you will feel completely surrounded by the summits of its mountains.

Park and take the chairlift on the right (there are others), do not stop at the first section (“Albergone”), but continue until the end of the chair lift.

While you go up with the system look around you, you will see among the most demanding slopes of Abetone and then look below you, you will see the blueberry pickers, which curved and silent, collect the fruits with the characteristic “comb”.

When you get off the chairlift go left (there are signs of CAI and GEA indicating the routes), after half an hour walk you will reach the “Flat Lake”.

A small body of water inhabited by newts and tadpoles; sit on the shore, enjoy the view and although the trip can also lead you to the Black Lake, for this morning you are back home.

Innocenti.rob, Lago Piatto, CC BY 3.0

Innocenti.rob, Monte Gomito e rifugio della Selletta, CC BY 3.0

Fifth day, Friday

Today you are ready to face a climb from real “hikers”, take the chairlift “Abetone / Selletta” (next to the bar La Casina) and after 10 minutes you will arrive at “Rifugio La Selletta” where you can stop before to walk towards the “Monte Gomito / La Croce”.

A breathtaking 360 ° view, where you can see the “Campolino Reserve”, the “Val di Luce”, the “Pietra di Bismantova”, the slopes of the Modenese and Tuscan Apennines, at the highest peak: the “Monte Cimone” “And if you are lucky in the days when the sky is clearer you can also see the sea, yes, just the sea, Tirreno.

Before going back stop under the “Ovovia” plant a very sweet scent of camomile will inebriate you, with hundreds of seedlings scattered here and there.

The way back home now is all downhill, but on the way, be quiet, on the stony Mount Gomito, on your right, you can hear “whistling” the marmots and if you have a pair of binoculars you can also see them

The route from the Selletta refuge to Monte Gomito / Croce takes about three hours and the way is uphill!

Do you like flowers and the mountain flora in general? This afternoon you go to the “Botanical Garden”: A few kilometers from the Abetone Pass, the direction is the same you have taken to go to the Faggeta di Pianello di Novello, from the fork for Pian di Novello after about one km. half you will find a fork, on the right and still after a km. You will arrive at the Botanical Garden.

Here you can observe the dozens of plants typical of our mountains and an expert will be available for any information.

To the right of the Botanical Garden flows the stream Sestaione, rich mainly of trout, of the Fario species, dip your hands and you will feel how cold its waters are.

Sixth day, Saturday

A walk in the woods to the “Chairs of the King” (round trip about an hour and a half), because the mountain does not welcome you only with its silence and with the majesty of its peaks, but it is also hospitable and generous.

In the direction of Pistoia, from our hotel, after 100 meters, before the bridge, turn left, the first downhill road tends to rise slightly, entering the woods.

Go ahead until you find on the right a “Natural Lounge” composed of four chairs, made from the stumps of old fir logs and surrounded by as many tall, straight and evergreen firs

Sit on the chairs because the mountain invites you to the banquet. Then continue up to the Foce della Verginetta, then, again, you could go back up to Mount Maiori or get off at La Secchia, but the weather is tyrant and you have to go back.