Montecagno to Monte Cisa

For my first walk in the high Apennines this year, I decided on a walk behind the main mountain ridges  where it is now becoming springtime.

 

I started from Montecagno a typical mountain village. In this village there are a couple of the Celtic dwellings  (in rather a poor state) that I have seen elsewhere in the high Apennines.  

Montecagno,Ligonchio,RE

Montecagno,Ligonchio,RE

Montecagno,Ligonchio,RE

 Taking the “Pighini” footpath I climbed up and then crossed Monte Rimodatino which dominates the village below. Along this footpath one  passes a rather sinister place where plague sufferers were sent to die in the seventeenth century, the footpath runs across the site of the mass grave. The views from the main mountain chain are quite nice from here.

Monte Rimondatino,Ligonchio,RE

Monte Rimondatino,Ligonchio,RE

Monte Rimondatino,Ligonchio,RE

Monte Rimondatino,Ligonchio,RE

 I then took the 621 footpath that leads to  Monte Cisa , the pastures of  “Prati Orze’ ” along the footpath were full of orchids and other  wild flowers. The last stretch of the path leading up to the pass below  Monte Cisa is quite exhausting  as it is very steep.

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

Prati Orze',Ligonchio,RE

From the top of Mount Cisa the view across to Monte Cusna  was  spectacular, with the  mountain partly covered by the last of the winter snow.

Monte Prampa,Ligonchio,RE

Monte Cisa, Ligonchio, RE

Monte Cisa, Ligonchio, RE

Monte Cusna from Monte Cisa, Ligonchio, RE

Monte Cusna from Monte Cisa, Ligonchio, RE

 Monte Cisa, Ligonchio, RE