1st stage: Monte Brugiana (Le Prade)- Canevara –Antona-Pian della Fioba- Arni
Uphill gradient 900 metres – downhill gradient 600 metres TMP 6 am
From Le Prade, along a difficult track that sneaks through the Frigido valley, you’ll reach Il Santo and the village of Canevara, at the mouth of the canal of Antona; from there, ride on along an ancient mule track heading for the village, nestled around the southern slopes of the mount of the same name, with nice views over the marina and the valley below. Then, through the track heading north from the village, you will reach Pian della Fioba, where you can visit "Pellegrini" Alpine Botanical Gardens, a few miles from the city of Massa and the village of Montignoso. After a few kilometres of asphalted road and past some tunnels, get some torches and touch Arni, where you can sleep at the "Aronte" guesthouse or Puliti hut (bookings only).
2nd stage: Arni- Passo Sella- Vagli di Sotto
Uphill gradient 550 metres - downhill gradient 900 metres - TMP 5.30 am
From Arni, follow the marble track up to Passo Sella, which opens up with some fine expanses of grass and superb views. The descent to Vagli and its lake mildly meanders through the beech woods in the Arnetola valley. You can stay at Hotel Le Alpi in Vagli di Sotto.
3rd stage: Vagli di Sotto- Campocatino-Gramolazzo – Ugliancaldo- Equi Terme
Uphill gradient 511 metres - downhill gradient 834 metres – TMP 8,00 am
An easy lag, through one of the loveliest sceneries on the Garfagnana side of the Apuan Alps. Ride along the track through Vagli di Sopra to the mountain pasture of Campocatino in the green valley dating back to the Ice Age, a pleasant place dominated by the impressive wall of the Roccandagia. Now, on an asphalted road, you can go on to Gorfigliano and Lake Gramolazzo; from where you can head for the village of Ugliancaldo, in a unique location, with a view of the Pizzo d’Uccello and Pisanino, then ride on through the deep gorges of the Lucido valley towards your destination, Equi Terme. You can sleep in a guesthouse or hotel.
4th stage: Equi Terme- Aiola- Monzone- Campo Cecina
Uphill gradient 1095 metres - downhill gradient 59 metres - TMP 6.00 am
A demanding stage, because of the deep gradient you have to overcome in the last lag, from the 277 metres of Monzone to the 1320 metres of Campo Cecina, along a steep dirt road. Along an ancient mule track, you will arrive in the medieval village of Aiola, then in Monzone, with the huge steep mass of the Tower of the same name (1251 metres asl) in the background. Back up along the ancient steps of the village, you can take the dirt road that through the Monsonari valley will lead you to "Prati di Cardeto", then, through the difficult track, keeping to the left from the valley head, you will reach the top of the terrace of Campo Cecina. You can sleep at Rifugio Carrara.
5th stage: Campo Cecina- Castelpoggio- Carrara- Monte Brugiana (Le Prade)
Uphill gradient 542 metres - downhill gradient 1234 metres - TMP 6.00 am
Along a difficult track, through the pass of Gabellaccia, you will get down to the village of Castelpoggio, the ancient seat of warmongering anarchists, then to the village of Gragnana, stretching out in the narrow, green bottom of the valley. Past Carrara and the villages of Codena, Bergiola-foscalina, you can go back up along a good mule track on the western side of Mount Brugiana and reach Centro Trekking Monte Brugiana.

For more information on these or other excursions, please contact: Centro Trekking Monte Brugiana di Paolo Monteleone tel. 0585 40840 cell. 337 713610
www.montebrugiana.it
info@montebrugiana.it
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