Sunday, March 18, 2012

Pania di Corfino

At last I found a day to do my first serious walk in the Apennines. I chose to repeat a 6 hour walk centred around the Pania di Corfino in the Garfagnana area of Tuscany.

Starting from the Orecchiella Park I followed the valley above Rifugio Isera turning into Valle Bastardino to arrive at the Sella di Campaiana. From here it takes about 20 minutes to arrive at the summit of the Pania.
 
Even though there was still snow on the ground on the north facing slopes , it was a really warm day for this time of year.
Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Last snow in the Bastardino, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Towards monte Cella, Orecchiella,LU

After stopping for something  to eat on the summit, it was time to descend down to La Bandita with its marble monument in the middle of nowhere.  Here the footpath disappears , so the monument is a handy point to aim for.
Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU
From the Summit, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

From the summit, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU
 

Down to the Bandita, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Down to the Bandita, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Down to the Bandita, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

La Bandita, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

La Bandita, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU
It was time to return to the car. I took the old Mule  path that descends across the  front of the Pania.
This was an important path once, one can still see the cobblestones that made up the Mulattiero.
The path ends at Pruno  with its restored thatched buildings. These are similar to the Celtic constructions I have seen below Monte Cimone  in the Province of Modena.

Mulattiero, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Mulattiero, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Mulattiero, Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Scree slope below the Pania di Corfino,Orecchiella,LU

Thatched sheppards huts, Pruno,Orecchiella,LU

Thatched sheppards huts, Pruno,Orecchiella,LU
 I decided to take the road for the last leg of my walk. I stopped at Salera a small hamlet along the road.  The sea of crocuses in the fields were  spectacular.  The last couple of kilometres were not so enjoyable,  uphill all the way back to the Park.

Sulcina, Orecchiella,LU

Sulcina, Orecchiella,LU

Sulcina, Orecchiella,LU

Sulcina, Orecchiella,LU

Crocuses, Orecchiella,LU