This
itinerary involves crossing Pratomagno, one of the most panoramic
mountain areas of Tuscany. From its meadowy ridge there are views of
the the entire Casentino valley, the Valdarno. the Chianti hills and,
further away, the mountains of Abetone and the Garfagnana.
Put your skis on at Bagno di Cetica and walk up the main road, which
makes a number of wide curves before arriving at the broad track running
beneath the
ridge of Pratomagno. Take the right-hand branch and follow it as far as Varco
di Reggello and from here to the Croce al Cardeto. At this point there are
two options for getting to the Ristorante Giuntini. Either continue along
the unpaved
track (advisable when there is heavy snowfall) or follow the ridge (the red
and white signs are hard to see in winter) which soon brings you to a
track that
runs along a little above the main road (the road disappears completely when
there is heavy snow; if the snow is icy there may be difficulties of grip if
you have non-laminated skis). The two tracks join up again shortly before an
unpaved road going off left towards Macinaia. It is the first wide track you
come to on the left. Take it. After a flat stretch, it begins to descend quite
steeply. After passing (and ignoring) a road off to the left closed off by
a bar (near the Macinaia refuge hut), continue along the main road, which
loses
height and enters the forest of Vallombrosa. When you reach the Saltino–Vallombrosa
road (kept open in winter) go along beside it, skiing where possible, until you
reach the large meadow that opens up on the left. Keep to the side of the road
until you arrive at the abbey of Vallombrosa. The return trip takes you back
the way you came as far as Macinaia. Turn right here along the barred-off road
going downhill. At a big, right-bending curve, leave the wide track and go left
along a mule track you can ski along without difficulty. After an open, steep,
downhill stretch, the track enters the wood almost on the flat. An uphill stretch
is the sign that you are close to a small wooden refuge hut (unfortunately closed).
From here take the unpaved track leading to Croce al Cardeto and then follow
the route you came by back to Bagno di Cetica.
Distance |
23 km (round trip) |
Difference in height |
750 m |
Time |
6.30 hours |
Level of difficulty |
Medium |
Map |
Multigraphic 1:25.000 "Massiccio del
Pratomagno" |
Suggested period |
December/March |
Rest point/accommodation |
Abbey guest house, tel. 055/862074 |
Getting there |
From Arezzo take the SS. no. 71 as far
as Bibbiena and then the SS. 70 for Consuma. After passing Borgo
alla Collina, take
the road for Castel S. Nicolò and then for Cetica. From the village,
take the wide, unpaved road (in good condition) climbing to Bagno di Cetica.
If it has snowed at low altitudes, leave the car at Cetica. This adds as
much as 7 km to the overall distance, making it difficult to complete in
one day. |
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