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ANPIL of S. Brigida – The Western
itinerary |
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Walking routes |
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This itinerary allows you to
visit the natural area in the section between the col of the Alberaccio
and the Sanctuary of the “Madonna del Sasso”. Being so close to Florence,
this section of the natural area is crowded at any time of the year.
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The access
We recommend to park the car near the col of the Alberaccio, which can
be reached from the provincial road between Molino del Piano and Olmo. Col
of the Alberaccio is not far away from another pass (“Valico delle Croci”)
along S.S. 302 between Florence and Borgo San Lorenzo, near the junctions
to Fiesole, Bivigliano and Pratolino. The route begins by following path
CAI 00, along a broad ridge walk; to your right, the place overlooks the
valley of Sieci and far away in the distance is Pratomagno, the mountain
on whose sides lies the abbey of Vallombrosa.
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Among beeches, firs and red oaks
At an altitude of 621, ignore the first path branching off on
the right (path 1, along which you’ll come back) and take the steeper path
CAI 4. You could also continue along path CAI 00, which goes up northwards
in a longer but gentler way, to eventually meet again path CAI 4.
Path CAI 4 initially climbs up through oak woodland, to an altitude of
about 800 meters where you’ll meet beech trees (left) and some Canadian
red oaks (right).
Not far away from here, at the end of the this last uphill bit, is
woodland covered with Douglas firs: this variety is the result of the
reforestations and botanic experiments carried out in the 19th century by
Mr Guadagni, the former owner of this land.
As said above, path CAI 4 meets path CAI 00: follow the latter for a few
meters to find path 2 leading to the Sanctuary.
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The descent to the Sanctuary
Path 2 descends quite steeply through conifers (result of an old
reforestation) first and through chestnut woodland later. Finally, cross a
small stream, just near the rocks from which it springs. Proceed through
oak woodland and all of a sudden you’re behind the
Santuario della Madonna del Sasso.
After looking round the religious building, take the uphill path 1 that
follows the old aqueduct . Cross an unpaved road, through chestnut
woodland (where is a cave once used by charcoal burners) and past a
conifer reforestation you’re again at 621 meters in altitude where path
CAI 00 takes you home. |
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