Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane

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Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane Information

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  • 1 - Overview

Marble Caves

  • 2 - Main Areas of the Range

Overview Map of the Alpi Apuane

  • 3 - Apuane North-Western Sector
  • 3.1 - Sumbra / Fiocca
  • 3.2 - Tambura / Sella
  • 3.3 - Pisanino / Cavallo / Ucello
  • 3.4 - Rasori / Sagro / Burla
  • 4 - Apuane Western Sector

Monte Altissimo

  • 5 - Apuane Eastern Sector
  • 6 - Apuane Southern Sector
  • 6.1 - Camaiore
  • 6.2 - Pescaglia
  • 6.3 - Fabbrice di Vallicio
  • 7 - Getting There
  • 8 - Red Tape

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  • 9 - Accommodation / Mountain Huts
  • 9.1 - Accommodation
  • 9.2 - Mountain Huts
  • 10 - Weather Conditions
  • 11 - Maps & Books
  • 11.1 - Maps
  • 11.2 - Maps Online
  • 11.3 - Books
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  • Monte Cavallo
  • Monte Tambura
  • Pania della Croce
  • Pizzo d'Uccello
  • Monte Sumbra
  • Pania Secca
  • Monte Corchia
  • Monte Focoletta
  • Monte Altissimo
  • Torre Francesca
  • Monte Matanna
  • Torri di Monzone
  • Monte Forato

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Walking in the Apuane Alps

Ascending Monte Forato, with Monte Croce in the background

  • self guided walk
  • 7 nights in 2 star hotels & pensions
  • 7 Breakfasts

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Bosnia and herzegovina, czech republic, liechtenstein, netherlands, north macedonia, switzerland, türkiye/turkey, united kingdom, bike & boat, multi-activity, vessels & boats, advanced search.

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  • Mountain Walking in Tuscany
  • Remote Unsophisticated Tuscany
  • Hike on Limestone Summits

The Apuane Alps are a remote area of northern Tuscany - a world away from the towns and rolling hills of the south. There are few other walkers and the villagers make you feel truly welcome. This walk has many attractive ingredients, from wide mountain vistas, to remote hamlets surrounded by forest and mountain scenery. From the small unassuming town of Fornaci di Barga you'll enter the Apuane forests, climbing up through chestnut woods and dropping down through vineyards to the ancient village of Verni, home to an impressive series of limestone massifs rising up to 2000m. The Apuanes are famous for their scenery of white marble towers, abysses and the largest cave system in Italy. During the walk you'll explore remote chapels, climb Monte Forato (1223m) and visit the 'Grotta del Vento' with its subterranean lakes. You'll also have the option to ascend Pania della Croce (1860m) before visiting the hermitage at Calomini.

NB : On this tour there is a maximum of 2 single rooms available.

Trip Grading

Moderate to challenging.

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Day 1 Commence Fornaci di Barga

Day 2 fornaci to verni 15.7 km/10 miles, 5.5 h.

Meals:   B,D

Day 3 Verni to Fornovolasco 16.4 km/10.9 miles, 6 h

Day 4 circular walk to monte forato 9.4 km/5.8 miles, 6 h, day 5 there and back walk to grotta del vento 3km / 2 miles , allow 4 hours, day 6 fornovolasco to eremo di calomini 27 km /16.6 miles, 9-11 h, day 7 eremo di calomini to gallicano (then to fornaci di barga) from 6.2km/4 miles, 2 h, day 8 arrangements end after breakfast or extension to lucca.

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines. On self guided trips, actual route information provided before departure will be more detailed.

What's included

  • 7 breakfasts, 7 dinners
  • 7 nights accommodation in a 3 * hotel & pensions on a twin share basis
  • Ensuite facilities where available
  • Luggage transfers from Inn to Inn
  • Full route notes and map package
  • Emergency hotline
  • GPX files to cover the main routes

What's not included

  • all lunches & beverages
  • Entrance fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Travel to the start and from the end point of the trip
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
  • Unscheduled transfers required during the trip
  • City Tax 2-4 Euros per day, per person locally payable to the accommodations
  • Guide - this is a self guided holiday
  • A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
  • Excess Luggage

moderate to challenging   

This trip is graded moderate to challenging.This self-guided tour traverses rugged and remote terrrain and is therefore not available to solo travelers for safety reasons. Clients should be in reasonable condition and be able to walk between 10-24kms/ 6-15 miles, 3-7 hours per day. The maximum altitude is 1860m and clients should be prepared to ascend in excess of 1100m in one day. If you take the option to climb Pania della Croce (1860m), there is a 1400m difference in altitude. This walk is 9 hours (but some people have found it up to 11 hours).

Per Person, Twin Share

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tour alpi apuane

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Hiking in the Alpi Apuane in Tuscany

tour alpi apuane

Go on a hike in the Alpi Apuane in Tuscany, an amazing alpine environment just above the sea. You'll be guided by one of the IFMGA-certified guides of the Prorock team.

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Description

The Alpi Apuane/Apuan Alps Regional Park located in Tuscany is extremely famous throughout the world for its beauty and stunning views. Amazing hikes , from touristic to more challenging ones, can be done here.

So do you want to join us on guided trekking and discover some really cool spots off-the-beaten-path and away from the crowds?

The hiking trails in the Alpi Apuane have a unique feature: you'll walk in a fantastic alpine environment and, at the same time, have the chance of admiring breathtaking views of the sea.

On most hikes, we'll be walking on typical mountain paths. Some are equipped with via ferrata , accessible only with appropriate equipment and with the support of a mountain guide.

We have been guiding in the Alpi Apuane for more than 30 years. And we know every corner of these beautiful mountains and  will be glad to let you discover some of our favorite secret corners.  

There are several options we can go for. The choice will depend on your fitness level, what you wish to do and the time you have. These are some of the options:

Villages and paths in the mountains of Camaiore

Mount Gabberi (1140 m)

Hiking trails around Pruno , in front of Monte Forato

Mount Pratofiorito in the countryside of Lucca . Including the renowned Gagni di Lucca (thermal baths)

Mount Mattanna (1317m)

Mount Prana (1221m) above the Camaiore Valley

Hike and food/wine testing around the historical villas of Lucca

Mount Proncinto or/and Mount Forato t1223 m)

Mount Sumbra (1764 m)

Panial della Croce (1858 m)

Mount Pisanino (1946m)

It is also possible to combine several hikes and leave for two or more days. We can then stay at one of the mountain huts (rifugio)  in the Apuane Alps.

If you are interested in hiking in the Alpi Apuane Regional Park during one or more days, please send us a request and let's organize the trip of your dreams together

The hikes can be combined with some canyoning   or rock climbing, in the Apuan Alps / Tuscany or Cinque Terre .

Price includes

- Guiding fee

Clothing: We recommend comfortable clothes suitable for the season, appropriate shoes for the hike. Bring a backpack with a spare t-shirt, a rain jacket (in case), hat, a lunch pack and water.

Meeting point

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

About the guide

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Guide Agency

The Prorock Outdoor Team is based in Camaiore (Lucca, Tuscany), a renowned holiday resort in the heart of Apuan Alps, one of the most beautiful mountain ranges of central Italy. Our company promotes fun and safe outdoor activities, offering professional support and training at all levels. Our expertise includes rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, vie ferrate, canyoning, backcountry skiing and hiking.

Our highly experienced team of IFMGA certified mountain guides will lead you on a unique experience to the most interesting spots of Apuan Alps, Cinque Terre and many more localities. Carlo, Cristiano, Franco, Pasquale and Roberto, our guides, will make you enjoy your holiday time with Prorock Outdoor!

Italian | French | English

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UVGAM | IFMGA

What people are saying about this trip

Franco was a very professional guide. If you are not familiar with the trails in the Apuan Alps I highly recommend you hire this company - for ease of mind and safety. I am a former mountain guide in the United States.

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The Apuane mountains

Apuan Alps are in the hinterland of the Versilia Riviera . This is a range of mountains of great beauty, dramatic scenery and high and rugged peaks, hence the name “Alps”, due to the resemblance with the real Alps. In fact, they are an offshoot of the Appennines, the mountain range that runs through peninsular Italy for all its length.

The Apuan Alps, in Italian “Alpi Apuane”, are a designated UNESCO Global Geopark , which UNESCO itself calls “The most beautiful marble mountains of the world.”

The Apuane (see top picture) are very close to the coast ; their blue and white silhouette dominates the scenery from Viareggio beach and sea.

Versilia is certainly a unique part of the world, where mountains of this great altitude are so close to the sea: it is a rare gift of nature . To swim in the sea and then look back and be able to admire those gigantic, majestic masses and their pointed summits as the backdrop is to experience two of the greatest forces of natural beauty at the same time.

Pizzo d'Uccello mountain in the Apuan Alps

The Apuane Alps are a protected area, the Regional Park of the Apuan Alps . Part of it lies in the Versilia district, and is called Alta Versilia (High Versilia) as opposed to the low-lying Versilia coast. Another section of Apuane lies in the Garfagnana area, which includes the valley of river Serchio.

There are excellent walks to be had all around the Apuane mountains. The trails are studded with “baite” of the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano), Alpine huts and chalets where to stop, have refreshments and in some cases stay overnight, having a sound sleep after a long hike and possibly a “bicchierino” (small glass) of grappa.

The great beauty of the Apuan, this vast unspoilt area is also in its silence , which in some places is perfect and absolute. You can stand there and hear nothing at all, or rather you can have that eerie experience of almost hearing the silence itself.

Carrara and the Apuan Alps

The Apuan Alps are rich in marble , the white, world-famous Carrara marble , which has been extracted from open quarries in the side of the mountains for many centuries, since Roman times. Marble from the Apuane mountains was used by Michelangelo to sculpt his masterpieces, and the great artist himself worked in the quarries for some time.

If you drive around the area, you’ll see lorries transporting blocks of marble on the road; companies processing marble are also part of the scenery, with their characteristic, special cranes , like “gru a ponte” and “gru a cavalletto”.

Italy , thanks to the remarkable quantity of marble formations existing in a large part of its territory, is the world’s top country for marble production .

The Carrara marble is of very high quality, fine, precious and valuable . It is named after the city of Carrara in northern Tuscany, close to the Apuan Alps, which is the world’s most important centre for the extraction and processing of the renowned marble.

Carrara’s historic centre can be considered as a proper mountain town, surrounded by hills at the foot of the Apuan Alps and by their marble quarries. The city of Carrara extends from the Apuane, on whose slopes are its mountain suburbs and hamlets, all the way to the coast, where Marina di Carrara , a beach resort and port, lies.

Three great marble fields in the Torano, Fantiscritti and Colonnata quarries, which meet at Carrara and form the city’s white frame, are open to the public and can be visited. Every tourist should see them.

The visit is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. It follows the route of the former Marble Railway , which from 1876 until 1964 transported the marble from the quarries to the lowland sawmills, the port of Marina di Carrara and the national railway system: an enormous feat for the time, over an altitude of 450 metres across a length of 22 kilometres through a large number of bridges and railroads, it has now been replaced by transport by road.

Vara Viaducts in the Carrara marble quarries

Visitors are taken on a spectacular journey over the impressive Vara Viaducts and inside striking tunnels dug into the rock, to discover the quarries worked since Roman times. During the Roman Empire the blocks were transported down to the valley below with the hazardous method called “lizzatura,” and marble reached the port of Luni along the Via Carraia on bullock carts.

Carrara’s economy mainly revolves around marble, its production and trade. Other economically-important activities are chemical and food insdustries as well as both artistic and seaside tourism.

The blocks of marble are extracted with special channeling machines, shipped from the port of Marina di Carrara and exported all over the world . Sometimes they are processed and sold by local marble sawmills and laboratories.

The medieval town of Pietrasanta , in Versilia , is an important centre of quarrying companies and a thriving international artists’ colony : visitors have included Henry Moore and Fernando Bottero . Marble is the backbone of the local economy of Pietrasanta, with 115 companies involved in quarrying and selling the white Carrara marble from the Apuan mountains.

Pietrasanta is rightly considered as the world’s capital of marble working . Many internationally renowned art schools and sculpture laboratories are in Pietrasanta.

Apuan Alps marble mountain and quarry

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View all hotels in Forte dei Marmi

Photo credits: Pizzo d’Uccello by Lorenzo Antiga . Carrara by Carrarino at it.wikipedia . Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons . Photo of Ponti di Vara courtesy of Club Fotografico Apuano. Marble mountain by picdrops .

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50 Hikes In and Around Tuscany

An introduction to the hikes, ecosystems, and geology of Tuscany.

Sections of the Book

  • The Ecosystems of Tuscany
  • Introduction to the Tuscan Coastline
  • Hikes of the Southern Tuscan Coast and Archipelago
  • Hikes of the Northern Tuscan Coast
  • Introduction to the Tuscan Hill Country
  • Hikes of the Tuscan Hill Country
  • Introduction to the Alpi Apuane

Hikes of the Alpi Apuane

  • Introduction to Cinque Terre and Ligurian Coast
  • Hikes of the Cinque Terre and Ligurian Coast
  • Introduction to the Northern Apennines
  • Hikes of the Northern Apennines
  • Introduction to Central Apennines and Adriatic
  • Hikes of the Central Apennines
  • Hikes of the Adriatic Side

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

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  • Alpi Apuane

Alpi Apuane

Explore the enchanting varied mountains of Alpi Apuane The Alpi Apuane is different in all aspects as compared to the lovely Apennines for the morphology and the deep valleys and, of course, the steep slopes. The Apuane are popular for their unique creations and the marble formations along with the deep abysses and cavities that are characterized by karst. The different kind of atmosphere here and the exposure to the different seasons have made it a unique part of the country where exists a contrasting atmosphere that have helped the diversity of the flora and fauna of the territory. What to find here It is a great unique landscape of Tuscan and is now a national park that was created in 1985. Here, you can find the creeks, forests, and the meadows with different colored flowers, plants, shrubs, trees, rivers, streams and more. There is no end to the natural beauty that is splashed all over the place. You can find here unspoiled nature, and the amazing thermal spring can help you spend a good time in the canyon. Another place is the Barga that comprise of beautiful surroundings and a lovely cathedral. Besides, there is the Grotta Del Vento that cannot be missed. It is famous for the stalagmites and stalactites caves that are scattered all over the roof and the floor. The marble rocks here are wonderful and very famous that are found here in the Alpi Apuane Mountains. How to reach Bagni di Lucca is the place to begin the hiking tour. You can reach the canyon and enjoy the place for hours together. You can find here unspoiled nature, and the amazing thermal spring can help you spend a good time. The Castelnuovo is located in Garfagnana is another place where you can begin your tour. Adventures that you can indulge in The place is vast and splendid, and that is why there are plenty of activities that one can carry out easily here. 1. Mountain Bike There are two mountain ranges here, and the trails vary and you can opt for rides for different age groups and abilities. There is a selection of bike trips available during the summer season that are self-guided or guided trips. The tours are organized according to different levels of difficulty and are available for people with different age and abilities. 2. Trekking Trekking is also possible here at various trials and offered for various ages and abilities as well. There are high mountain treks and valley walks in various parts of the mountains that you can check and get the right information. Places like the Chianti, vald’orcia are some of the places where trekking takes place. There are self-guided as well as guided tours as well and also graded tours like easy, moderate, challenging and difficult. 3. Snowshoeing Winter is the right time for snow shoeing, and there are high-class ski resorts her that offer snow shoeing in Monte Cimone in Emila Romagna. The venture is through snow covered forests and mountain ridges. Poles are provided with a pair of gators and anyone with good strength and health can complete it. 4. Kayaking in lake vigil, Pontecosi, and Gamolazzo The lakes are artificial ones, and thus paddling is possible here. One can enjoy guided tours of kayaks here which is great fun. 5. Horse riding Horse riding is fun and are carried out on marked routes and is possible all year round. The routes are from La via Del Sol, le vie Del marmot, la via Degli Altopiano and many such places. There are many other types of adventure activities carried out here for different age groups, gender, and abilities.

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Visiting Carrara Marble Quarries - Apuan Alps' Eternal Snow

tour alpi apuane

When driving along the west coast of Tuscany just north of Pisa, you will see jagged alps rising steeply from the narrow strip of land, glistening majestically. These are the Alpi Apuane , or Apuan Alps, mountains that gleam as though cloaked with snow all year round. But the pristine white is not snow, it is the marble of the bare quarried faces of the mountains – the snow the gods made eternal. The effect is so surreal it would not be out of place in a mural in an Indian restaurant, but this breathtaking view belies a multi-million euro a year industry and the source of some of the most famous sculptures in the world – including Michelangelo ’s Pietà and David.

The marble quarries of Carrara are situated in the valleys of Torano, Miseglia, Bedisano and Colonnata, where both white and coloured marbles are found: the amount of marble is staggering. From raw cut blocks waiting for export, rows of flawless reproductions of Michelangelo’s David, to the marble-clad centre of Carrara, it is clear that marble is the main protagonist of this area. Driving further up into the mountains around hairpin turns through the lush green forest does nothing to prepare you for the number and scale of the marble quarries that were first opened up by the Romans more than 2000 years ago.

tour alpi apuane

Ancient Roots

tour alpi apuane

The Renaissance was boom time for Carrara. Marble was de rigueur in Florence, Venice and Rome, and there was plenty of money being invested in art. Michelangelo travelled to the Alpi Apuane to choose his marble, and eventually to open up rival quarries to those of Carrara for his patrons the Medici. Michelangelo worked in the Serra gorge, favouring the whitest, most finely veined marble and he dreamed of carving the figure of a giant out of 5000 ft Monte Sagro.

By the 14th century, mining methods had not changed much from the times of the Romans. Stonecutters climbed for miles up the vertiginous peaks in squads to drill holes in the rock into which they drove wooden stakes. They then wet the wood, which expanded and split off huge blocks of marble.

tour alpi apuane

The marble blocks, up to 40 tons each, were then slid down the mountain on logs with oxen, a technique called ‘Lizzatura’. Gunpowder was introduced in 1570 by the Marquis Malaspina, ruler of Carrara. However, this proved to be too destructive, reducing too much of the precious marble to dust, the legacy of which are the cascades of rubble that seem like snow from afar.

The Price of Progress

Today massive bulldozers and high-speed, diamond-edged cutting equipment mean greater efficiency of quarrying and better working conditions, but the effects on the landscape are notable. The quarries look like half finished ziggurats, with Escher–like inverted ledges, sheer drops and chambers. There are entire peaks that have been cut in half.

tour alpi apuane

Mario owns a small restaurant-café in Colonnata and in his spare time organises guided trekking trips on the mountains and visits to marble quarries. ‘I was born here and I worked in these quarries for more than four years. Then I stopped. It was too hard. But I love to take tourists around the abandoned quarries and explain what the job is about. I love to see the amazement in their faces when I say that the marble is cut with metal cables of tiny diamonds,’ he adds.

A question does enter your mind as you take in the devastating effects of 2000 years of mining: Just how long can the marble of Carrara last?

But marble is not the only precious product of the area. A curious spin-off the marble industry is the delicacy Lardo di Colonnata. Lardo was the traditional high-energy food of the workers in the quarries. There are many similarities between marble and lardo: lardo has the pearly white appearance of marble, it is quite expensive and, in Italy, quite sought after.

Fat of the Land

As you might imagine from the name, lardo is pure pork fat. But it’s not just any old bacon – it is pork back-fat, cut into strips and laid into chests of marble called conche with sea salt, garlic, black pepper, and a mix of other spices, including sage, rosemary, cinnamon, cloves and coriander. The combination of spices varies between the producers, or larderie, who guard their recipes jealously. The lard is then aged in the conche for six to ten months.

tour alpi apuane

The menu was, as promised, simple: raw tomatoes, a basket of very slightly toasted bread, and a platter of transparent, thinner-than-wafer-thin (we are talking microns here) slices of Lardo di Colonnata. I asked the very healthy-looking, slim waitress if she ate the lardo often. She assured me that she did. On closer enquiry, she revealed that because the lardo is aged in marble containers, the calcium carbonate drew out some of the saturated fats. This was repeated to me by a number of people in Colonnata, but I’m not sure I believe it.

The lardo, however, was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious - salty with just discernable traces of cinnamon. At the end of my ‘menu degli scavatori’ I did feel as though a day in the quarries chipping at that eternal snow just might do me some good.

Information: Sagra del Lardo di Colonnata - Colonnata, Massa Carrara, Tuscany: last weekend of August every year.

Want to discover the Carrara marble? Take a look at this tour

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Peakvisor app, regional natural park of the apuan alps.

The Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps (Parco Alpi Apuane) is a mountainous park known for its rugged landscape that’s located along the northwestern coast of Italy . The park encompasses some of the highest peaks along the coastline. There are 251 named mountains in the park. The tallest and most prominent is Monte Pisanino at 1,947 m (6,388 ft) in elevation with 1,169 m (3,835 ft) of prominence.

Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

Human History

Major trails & hiking areas, monte forato loop, pania della croce – foce di mosceta, montare altissimo, major cities.

The Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps (Parco Alpi Apuane) is situated along the northwest coast of Italy within the region of Tuscany . The park covers an extremely mountainous region of the Apuan Alps.

The peaks, and the park as a whole, are located in the provinces of Massa-Carrara and Lucca . The Apuan Alps span approximately 55 kilometers (34 miles) along the western coast of the country. The range is marked by the valleys of both the Serchio and Magra rivers.

Amidst the abrupt and jagged peaks of the park lie expansive views of the sea to the west. Throughout the park are small lakes of vibrant blue and green water that closely resembles alpine geography.

Besides lakes, the park is also home to over 1,300 known caves including the Antro del Corchia in Stazzema, which happens to be the deepest cave system in the entire country. Natural limestone arches, along with a plethora of ghost towns and abandoned structures are found throughout the park.

road pass and tunnel, Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

Additionally, the Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps is located near other popular outdoor recreation areas. These places include Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Nature Park (Parco Naturale di Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli) to the south, Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park (Parco Nazionale Appennino Tosco-Emiliano) to the north, and Cinque Terre National Park (Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre) to the northwest.

The mountains within the Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps are part of the Apuan Alps, which is a northern subrange of the Apennine Mountains . The Apennines consist of numerous subranges that extend 1,200 km (750 miles) along the length of Italian peninsula.

The Apuan Alps, along with the rest of the Apennine Mountains , began forming around 20 million years ago. The Apennine Mountains are much younger than the Alps which lie to the north.

Much of the subrange that lies within the park consists of sedimentary rock coming from the historic Tethy Sea. The collision of the African plate with the European plate (alongside other tectonic events) resulted in the Alpine Orogeny, which formed the Alps. Over time, and with continued tectonic collision, the Apennines began to form. The sediments that form limestones, sandstones, shales, and dolomites began to compact into the rocks that we see today.

Eventually, this pressure resulted in the metamorphosis of some of the region’s limestone into the famous Carrara marble. Continual erosion over millions of years wore down the other sedimentary rocks, leaving behind the jagged peaks that define the park today.

Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

In fact, the Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps boasts such a unique geology that it is designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark . The entirety of the regional park is part of the Geopark. It is prized for its large cave system and its historic marble reserves.

Major peaks within the park include Monte Pisanino , Monte Tambura , Monte Cavallo , Pania della Croce , and Monte Corchia .

Amidst the rocky peaks of the park lie densely forested hills intermixed with open areas. Oak, and chestnut trees can be found in the valleys while beechwoods are more prominent at higher altitudes.

Fauna in the region has dwindled as human populations have continued to grow. While there were once populations of bear, deer, wolf, and linx, none are present in the park today. In recent years both goats and mouflons (wild sheep) have been reintroduced to the park.

Large populations of bats and numerous species of rodents can be found within the many caves in the park. Common bird species include the royal eagle, crag martin, accentor, and sea-crow, the latter of which is featured on the emblem for the park.

Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

The deep caves of the park offer an ideal habitat for the Italian cave salamander, spectacled salamander, and the alpine newt.

Located on the outskirts of Liguria , humans have inhabited the region that is now part of the park for thousands of years. Dating back to the Bronze Age, around 3300 BCE to 1200 BCE, ancient civilizations lived mainly along the region’s coastlines, venturing into the mountains for hunting purposes.

The city of Massa, which lies just outside of the park, dates back to the second century CE. The city was the capital of the Principate of Massa and Carra from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries.

The current town of Carrara was originally established by the Romans in the second century BCE. The city has a rich history of mining marble since the Roman Age.

Pomezzana village, Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

During the end of the nineteenth century, Carrara became home to many of the quarry workers who had more radical beliefs than the rest of the country. Violent revolutionaries from other parts of Europe traveled to the city and founded an anarchist group.

Many famous sculptures such as the Pantheon and Trajan’s Column used marble from the mountains within the park. Today besides being a park, the region is still home to marble quarries, hiking trails, and guided tours.

White Carrara marble quarries . Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps is home to numerous trails and other opportunities for outdoor recreation. Here are some of the most popular trails in the park:

The Monte Forato Loop is an out and back trail with a small loop section. The route totals 9.7 km (6 miles) in length with 715 m (2,345 feet) of elevation gain. True to the trail’s name, the route climbs up to the summit of Monte Forato at 1,230 m (4,036 feet).

Monte Forato Loop, Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

Monte Forato is also known as Pania Forate. This hike showcases a massive natural arch that connects its two peaks.

The Pania della Croce – Foce di Mosceta Trail is 11.3 km (7 miles) in length with 945 m (3,100 feet) of elevation gain. The loop trail travels above the treeline through the grasslands of the park.

Numerous viewpoints throughout the trail showcase the Apuan Alps and nearby ocean. Sections of the trail hike along exposed ridgelines so hikers should be cautious of visiting on a hot day.

Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

The Montare Altissimo trail is 6.4 km (4 miles) long with 540 m (1,771 feet) of elevation gain. The loop trail passes by a marble quarry marked by massive slabs of the region's famous marble. Once at the summit, hikers have beautiful views of the forested hills stretching out to the nearby sea.

There are many guided cave tours within the park and surrounding region. Because the caves are such delicate ecosystems, many of them require a guide or service fee before entering. Some caves limit the number of visitors per day so tourists should plan ahead to reserve a tour spot.

marble quarries. Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps, Italy

Looking for a place to stay near the Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps? Here are some of the best cities and villages to check out in the region:

The city of La Spezia is located just northwest of the park. As a common stop for those visiting the Cinque Terre as well as the Apuan Alps, La Spezia is home to numerous hotels, and restaurants, making it well-equipped for tourists.

The city’s train system also allows for easy access to the Cinque Terre in the north and the communities of Massa, Lucca, and Pisa that lie to the south. Besides hiking, other well-known attractions in the city include the San Giorgio Castle, Isola Palmaria, Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta,and Ponte Thaon di Revel.

La Spezia, Italy

South of the park lies the city of Pisa, capital of the province of Pisa . The city has a population of around 92,000 people and is known for its historic architecture, including the leaning tower of Pisa.

Besides the leaning tower, Pisa is also known for the Piazza del Duomo, Santa Maria della Spina, and picturesque strolls along the Arno River. The numerous museums, close proximity to hiking, make Pisa a perfect place to visit while traveling along the Italian coast.

Pisa, Italy

Explore Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps with the PeakVisor 3D Map and identify its summits .

tour alpi apuane

Apuan Alps, Monte Pesaro, Lorano Wall " La Baraka".

The Baraka (by R. Vigiani)

Difficulties  L1:6b+, L2:6b+, L3:6b+, L4:6c, L5:6c, L6:6c+, L7:5c

Open from below ,  max. difficulty . 6c+,  obbl . 6b (II/S2)

Fix Inox  10mm;  15 referrals ;  2 ropes 55 m ;  Development  220m;  Descent : on the way

In the Islamic world, 'La Bàraka' is a word that means 'Blessed by Allah' in our case it can be defined, with less devotion to the deities, as 'Blessed Luck'.

It is precisely this last definition of Bàraka that is most appropriate for the opening of the new route that I, together with Luisa, have traced on the face of Monte Pesaro in the Lorano valley above Carrara.

"Bàraka" because it takes luck to find a wall on the Apuane Alps that is still virgin and on it to trace a route that, although it seems very difficult to look at, has allowed us to climb it with difficulties that all in all were more than reasonable.

This year did not start off in the best of ways for me due to a rather serious finger injury that forced me to take a long break. During my convalescence period, my wandering around the Apuane Alps led me, thanks to a tip I got from the Tecchiaioli dell'Apian, (experts not only on Tecchiaioli but also on real walls!) to the base of this beautiful wall which, unfortunately, overlooks one of the largest marble basins in the Apuane Alps.

At first glance, the wall appeared to be a 'tough nut' and the first slightly leaning part of water-worked marble was overhung by an overhanging wall of flint limestone that promised very hard rock and assured difficulty. In its central part at the point where the marble descends further down, there is an attempt probably made by Carrara climbers but after about 20 metres, where the slab straightens out towards the vertical, it runs out! After an initial visual examination we chose what we thought was the most beautiful and easiest line to follow and without delay we attacked.

Luisa at the safety and I at the opening in two days, strictly from below, as is my style, we opened these seven fabulous pitches planting around 60 fixes.

To speed things up, I climbed the opening with the drill attached to the harness and many of the bolts I put in the climbing position. The bolting at the end of the job was rather stingy so, seeing that this will probably be the easiest route on the wall, we decided to add more bolts to make it safer and within reach of those who at least master 6b. The result is now available to everyone, the bolting is safe and well done and a few bolts we left a little to "conquer" so as not to wipe out all the excitement that climbing mulltiptch can give.

Unfortunately, as I said above, the wall is above the Lorano marble basin and if you go on weekdays (i.e. working days for the quarries) the noise of bulldozers and trucks is guaranteed. On public holidays (Sundays only) all is silent but looking over your shoulder you can't help but think how beautiful this valley would be without the havoc of the quarries!

Happy climbing to all,

Roberto Vigiani

there are two ways to get to the base of the wall:

From Carrara following the signs for Miseglia and then for the Fantiscritti and Lorano marble basin . When you reach the beginning of the marble road leading to the upper Lorano valley, leave the car and continue on foot along the marble road for about four kilometres to the base of the evident wall (about 1 hour). On weekdays, you can get almost under the wall with an off-road vehicle, but you have to ask permission to go up and make sure at what time they close the bar at the beginning of the road so that you don't get stuck with your car until the next morning! (it happened to us!).

From Carrara towards Campocecina from the bend before the Cave Rescue infirmary (car park) descend the obvious ridge that slopes down towards the wall, follow it until you find an obvious cairn with the route sign and the first abseil (approx. 25mins). See report

The attack  is reached via a fixed rope and the fixes clearly indicate the route. The pegging is all stainless steel, be careful that despite the clean-up there is certainly still some stone to be cleared. Helmet on your head and 55 metre ropes for the descent, the second and third abseils are off the route and quite impressive (self-locking knot recommended!) beware that on the third abseil just below the belay after a few metres there is a fix to be reached with a pendulum and to be sent absolutely....lest you remain in the void many metres from the wall! 15 quickdraws are required and the wall is east-facing (shade in spring - summer from 13/14 onwards).

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BellaItaliaTour

Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

  • Destinations

Cinque Terre

  • April 10, 2020 May 21, 2020
  • BellaItaliaTour
  • Cinque Terre , Destinations

Exclusive Private Cinque Terre Day

Here’s where Tuscans and others come to play on long sandy beaches. These beaches towns are lively, bustling places in the summer, and some what quieter in the off-season.

• 20 km (13 mi) northwest of Pisa, 97 km (60mi) west of Florence

Viareggio

Tobias Smollet (1721-1771), an English novelist, wrote in the 1760s that Viareggio was “a kind of sea-port on the Mediterranean…The roads are indifferent and the accommodation is execrable”.

Much has changed in Viareggio since Smollet’s time: there are lots of accommodations ranging from five-star splendor to one-star simplicity, for this is a beach town that gets very crowded in the summer. It’s loud, brassy, and not the place to come to if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.

Useful links:

• Search accommodations in Viareggio

• Pisa, Pasta and Chianti wine Small Group tour from La Spezia

Viareggio also has numerous buildings decorated in the Liberty style and a wide promenade parallel to the sea that resembles, in some ways, American boardwalks where tourist and locals alike come out to stroll.

Lining the main drag are bars, cafés, and some very fine restautants .

It’s worth a stop or a detour if you like the beach and want to see how middle-class Italians spend their beach vacations.

If you can’t make it to Venice for Carnevale (Carnival), settle for Viareggio, which is nearly as much fan as Venice. The city is packed with revellers from all over Tuscany who come to join in the riot of coloured parades and festivities .

Try to book lodging in advance, but beware : Lots of people want to be here to celebrate Carnival , and hotels acknowledge this fact by charging high-season prices.

•  Search accommodations in Viareggio

•  Pisa, Pasta and Chianti wine Small Group tour from La Spezia

• Private Chianti and Supertuscan Wine tour from Viareggio – Forte dei Marmi

• Cinque Terre by Minivan and ferry-Boat tour from Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Versilia

• Siena, San Gimignano & Chianti Full Day Tour from Viareggio-Lido di Camaiore

• Tuscan Wine Tour: Wine Tasting Half Day Trip from Viareggio-Lido di Camaiore

• Cooking Class in a Tuscan Farmhouse from Viareggio, Versilia

• Shopping Tour with Personal Shopper – Florence and The Mall Outlet Day Tour From Versilia (Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore or Forte dei Marmi)

Pietrasanta

• 8 km (5 mi) north of Viareggio, 104 km (65 mi) northwest of Florence

Pietrasanta has a gorgeous rectangular Renaissance Piazza del Duomo that gives you a feel for how grandly 15th-century architects conceived. Both Donatello and later Michelangelo (1475 – 1564) used marble quarried nearby.

Piazza del Duomo is a nice square to enjoy a coffee at an outside café and people-watch. The Porta Pisana will be on your left, as wll as the remains of the Rocca Arringhina , a structure dating from the 1320s and rebuilt in the 1480s.

Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

On the corner of Via Padre e Barsanti and Piazza del Duomo is a plaque recording that Michelangelo signed a contract in 1518 on this spot to do the façade of San Lorenzo in Florence.

The Duomo , dedicated to San Martino and begun in the mid-13th century, is undergoing a lengthy restoration and is at present closed to the public. Most of the art inside dates from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The church of Sant’ Agostino was built in the 14th century by the Augustinians. Some 15th-century frescoes and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries are contained within. It’s no longer a church but is used for special exhibitions.

The Museo dei Bozzetti contains a collection of sculptural sketches and models made by contemporary Italian and foreign artists, including the most important sculptors of this century in the Versilian workshops.

The Civico Museo Archeologico has objects from the 3rd millennium BC as well as pottery dating from the Renaissance. The collection is housed in the 15th-century Palazzo Moroni .

The church of Sant’ Antonio Abate (also know as the church of San Biagio) dates from the 14th-century and is dedicated to San Biagio. Inside are two wood polychromed sculptures of San Biagio and Sant’Antonio Abate dating from the 16th century. Frescoes by Colombian artist Fernando Botero (born 1932) depicting La Porta del Paradiso ( The Gates of Heaven ) and La Porta dell’ Inferno ( The Gates of Hell ), dating from the 1990s, are in the side nave.

Forte dei Marmi

• 5 km (3 mi) north of Pietrasanta, 14 km (9 mi) north of Viareggio, 104 km (65 mi) west of Florence.

Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

Forte Dei Marmi is a playground for wealthy Italians and equally wealthy tourists. Its wide sandy beaches–strands run for 6 km (4 mi)–have the Apuan Alps as a dramatic background. The town was, from Roman times, the port who which marble from Carrara was quarried and then transported. In the 1920s, it became a fashionable seaside resort and has so remained to this day. During the winter, the town’s population is about 10,000, in the summer, it swells seven to eight times that.

• Private Florence, Uffizi or Accademia and Chianti Wine Tasting Tour from Versilia Coast

• 8 km (5 mi) north of Forte dei Marmi, 22 km (14 mi) north of Viareggio, 115 km (74 mi) northwest of Florence .

Massa itself is not all that interesting. Should you find yourself here, attempt to visit the Rocca , which was built between the 14th and 16th centuries. To get there it’s a steep climb.

The fortress is currently undergoing restoration, but you can at least peek at the exterior. Things are livelier in Marina di Massa , Massa’s port 5 km (3 mi) south, where you can go to the beach and eat well, too.

• 26 km (16 mi) north of Viareggio, 7 km (4 mi) north of Massa, 126 km (79 mi) northwest of Florence

Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

Carrara history dates to Roman times. In 963, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I (912-973) donated the land that comprised Carrara to the bishops of Luni. The town faded into obscurity in the Middle Ages, and in the early 15th century it came under domination by the Malaspina family.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, it became a hotbed for anarchism, and during World War II, the town put up fierce resistance to the Nazis. The town is lively thanks to its art institute.

The Accademia di Belle Arti , founded by Maria Teresa Cybo Malaspina d’Este in 1769, draws studio art students from all over Italy. Their presence explains the funky atmosphere that’s found in some of the piazzas, and most likely explains why Carrara has a macrobiotic shop–something rare in Italy.

Marble has been quarried in the area for the past 2,000 years. Michelangelo , who is perhaps the most famous sculptor of all, quarried his marble here. The art historian Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) records that Michelangelo came to Carrara with two apprentices to quarry the marble for his ill-fated tomb for Julius II (1443-1513).

According to Vasari, he spent eight months among the rocks conceiving fantastical ideas for future work. Carrara has a lot of still-active-quarries—well over a hundred at last count.

Most of them are not open to the public for safety reasons. However, it is possible to tour specific caves .

marble-quarries-near-carrara-tuscany

For the true gourmand, this is the time to sample lardo di colonnata , the sinfully delicious, cholesterol-be-damned cured pork fat. It hails from this area and can be eaten hot on crostini (grilled bread with a drizzle of olive oil and topping) or cold with other mixed meats.

Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

Work begun on the Duomo in the 11th century and continued into the 14th. The cathedral is dedicated to St. Andrew and is the first church of the Middle Ages constructed entirely of marble. Most of the marble comes from Carrara (the white, light blue-grey, black, and red).

The tremendous façade is a fascinating blend of Pisan Romanesque architecture and Gothic. Note the human figures and animals on Corinthian capitals.

The lovely Baroque church of San Francesco is worth looking at simply because of its understated elegance. It dates from the 1620s to 1660s, and even though it eas built during the peak years of the Baroque, the only excess can be found in the twisting, marble columns embellishing the altars.

• La Spezia 144 km (90 mi) west of Florence

Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

The aura of isolation that has surrounded five almost inaccessible coastal villages known as Cinque Terre , together with their dramatic coastal scenery, has made them one of the eastern Riviera’s premier attraction.

Clinging haphazardly to steep cliffs, they are linked by footpaths, by train, and now by narrow, unasphalted and rather tortuous roads, a fairly recent development. The local train on the Genoa-La Spezia line stops at each town between Levanto and Riomaggiore . The westernmost village is Monterosso, but the easiest to reach by car is Riomaggiore, easternmost of the villages and closest to La Spezia and the A12 autostrada.

Useful Links:

• How to visit Cinque Terre

• Visiting the Cinque Terre towns: 5 things to know before your day trip

• Pisa to Cinque Terre

• Cinque Terre and Portovenere

• La Spezia city and its Cruise Port

• Lucca to Cinque Terre

All five of the Cinque Terre and the tiny mountain settlements that are linked to them are connected by well-established hiking footpaths –for much of their history, these were the only way to get from town to town on land.

Although today the train, and to a certain extent the road, have surpassed the footpaths, they’re still well kept and showcase breathtaking ocean views as well as access to rugged, secluded beaches and grottoes that will never have a train station.

vernazza-the-pearl-of-cinque-terre-in-spring

The largest of the five fishing towns is Monterosso , with a 12th-century church in the Ligurian style, lively markets, and small beaches.

To the east is Vernazza , a charming village of narrow streets, small squares and arcades, and the remain of forts dating from the Middle Ages.

• Cinque Terre Small Group Tour from Lucca

• Cinque Terre Private Tour from Cruise Port of La Spezia by Minivan and Ferry-boat

The buildings, narrow lanes, and stairways of Corniglia , the middle village, are strung togheter on a hillside amid vineyards; excellent views of the entire coastal strip can be seen on a clear day.

The enchanting paste houses in Manarola are nestled into a steep hill, hugging the rocky shoreline.

At the eastern end of the Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore, hudled around a tiny harbor dotted with fishing boats and hemmed in by sheer cliffs.

Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

Outdoor Activities and Sports

The most well-known and easiest hiking trail is the Via dell’ Amore (Lover’s Lane), which—going east to west—links Riomaggiore with Manarola (2 km/1 mi, 30 min) with a flat path cut into the cliffside.

The same trail continues to Corniglia (3 km/2 mi, 1 hr), the becomes more difficult between Corniglia and Vernazza (3 km/2 mi, 1,5 hrs).

Additionally, trails lead from Monterosso up the mountainside and back down to Vernazza , and into the mountains from Corniglia , Manarola , and Riomaggiore , with historic churches and great views along the way.

Trail maps are available at the Monterosso tourist office.

Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and a hat, and bring a water bottle, as there is little shade.

• Cinque Terre Private Escorted Tour from Cruise Port of La Spezia

• Cinque Terre Small-Group Tour from Cruise Port of La Spezia

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Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane

Attractions around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane

The top 5 attractions around parco naturale regionale delle alpi apuane.

tour alpi apuane

Cascata dell'Acquapendente

Hiking Highlight

The Acquapendente is the waterfall of the Apuane and deserves the little effort needed to get to its base. It is a little-known and little-frequented place in the reality of … read more

Colonnata was founded around 40 AD to mine marble, because Carrara was very popular back then. It is located in the Apuan Alps at 532 m altitude. Today it is … read more

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Rifugio Guido Donegani

One of the oldest refuges in all the Apuan Alps, the view of the Bagola Bianca and the Pisanino is wonderful. Excellent starting point for excursions on the northern Apuane.

Passo della Tambura

In addition to the breathtaking views and interesting paths to follow, the Tambura pass also has a particular history. Between 1738 and 1751, the Duke of Modena requested the construction … read more

Passo del Vestito

Road Cycling Highlight

Take lights for the very dark tunnels!!

Map of the Top 5 Attractions around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane

Popular around parco naturale regionale delle alpi apuane.

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Explore the most popular Tours around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane

Discover the most popular attractions around parco naturale regionale delle alpi apuane.

Still not found the Highlight you’re looking for? See guides of the top attractions in other regions:

  • Bagni Di Lucca
  • Pietrasanta
  • Villa Collemandina
  • Borgo A Mozzano
  • Sillano Giuncugnano
  • Piazza Al Serchio
  • Fabbriche Di Vergemoli
  • San Romano In Garfagnana
  • Coreglia Antelminelli
  • Castiglione Di Garfagnana
  • Castelnuovo Di Garfagnana
  • Camporgiano
  • Fosciandora
  • Vagli Sotto
  • Pieve Fosciana
  • Forte Dei Marmi
  • Villa Basilica
  • Lake Gramolazzo

GTO   Legacy   Tour   2024   –   Un   viaggio   tra   le   Dolomiti   per   celebrare   un’icona

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IMAGES

  1. Alpi Apuane: cosa fare, cosa vedere e dove dormire

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  2. Hiking in the Alpi Apuane in Tuscany. Hiking trip. UVGAM leader

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  3. Le Alpi Apuane

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  4. Visitare le Alpi Apuane (Guida Pratica)

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  5. Alpi Apuane seen from Monte Corchia : Photos, Diagrams & Topos : SummitPost

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  6. Tesori delle Alpi Apuane

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  1. Hard-Alpi-Tour 2023

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  3. ALPI APUANE sentiero 145

  4. Alpi Apuane

  5. Alpi Apuane , facile dire Cava di Marmo

  6. Il panorama del monte Rovaio è la sua panchina

COMMENTS

  1. ALPI APUANE UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK (Italy)

    The Alpi Apuane UNESCO Global Geopark is located within the administrative borders of 20 municipalities. The fame of the Apuan Alps is due to the beauty of their marbles whose quarrying dates back to Etrurian population (6th c. B.C.) and more significantly to Roman period. During the Renaissance many artists such as Donatello and Michelangelo ...

  2. Apuan Alps Regional Park

    The Apuan Alps guard a unique and particularly impressive subsoil, and there are more than 1,300 caves surveyed, formed over hundreds of thousands of years by the action of water, which, penetrating the fractures in the limestone rocks, has formed spectacular shafts, tunnels, halls and concretions. Three tourist complexes are open for guided tours: the Antro del Corchia in Levigliani, the ...

  3. Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane

    Top ways to experience Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane and nearby attractions. The best of Cinque terre Tour. 1. Full-day Tours. from. $855.92. per group (up to 8) Caving adventure at the Caves of Equi Alpi Apuane. 39.

  4. 7 hiking routes in the Apuan Alps

    This multi-day hike follows the old 18th-century trail that was developed as a commercial and military route connecting Modena and Massa, which passes through the lush Garfagnana and Media Valle del Serchio.Seven equally demanding legs across about 170 kilometres in total, two of which are dominated by the beauty of the Apuane Alps: San Pellegrino in Alpe - Poggio di Garfagnana e Poggio ...

  5. Alpi Apuane : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

    The western sector of the Alpi Apuane surrounds the town of Massa with its marble quarries. The northern boundary is the valley of Colonnata, the southern one the valley of the river Vezza.The eastern boundary is Passo Croce, which separates the subgroup from the Pania della Croce Group.The highest mountain of the group an most alpinistic feat is Monte Altissimo at 1589m.

  6. Apuane Alps Walking Holiday, 8 Days

    Hike on Limestone Summits. The Apuane Alps are a remote area of northern Tuscany - a world away from the towns and rolling hills of the south. There are few other walkers and the villagers make you feel truly welcome. This walk has many attractive ingredients, from wide mountain vistas, to remote hamlets surrounded by forest and mountain scenery.

  7. Hiking in the Alpi Apuane in Tuscany

    The hiking trails in the Alpi Apuane have a unique feature: you'll walk in a fantastic alpine environment and, at the same time, have the chance of admiring breathtaking views of the sea. On most hikes, we'll be walking on typical mountain paths. Some are equipped with via ferrata, accessible only with appropriate equipment and with the support ...

  8. Apuan Alps , Made of White Marble, Geological Rarity

    The Apuan Alps, in Italian "Alpi Apuane", are a designated UNESCO Global Geopark, which UNESCO itself calls "The most beautiful marble mountains of the world.". The Apuane (see top picture) are very close to the coast; their blue and white silhouette dominates the scenery from Viareggio beach and sea. Versilia is certainly a unique part ...

  9. 50 Hikes In and Around Tuscany: Hikes of the Alpi Apuane

    25 Monte Fiocca Geological Tour. A loop around Monte Fiocca, offering a fascinating geological cross-section of an Alpi Apuane peak and spectacular subalpine heath moorlands. ... A loop in the northern Alpi Apuane above the famous marble quarries of Cararra to the summit of Monte Sagro . Distance: 8.5 km (5.3 mi) Elevation: 1279 - 1749 m ...

  10. Best Trails in Apuan Alps Regional Natural Park

    According to AllTrails.com, there are 6 camping trails in Apuan Alps Regional Natural Park and the most popular is Monte Prana - Focetta di San Vincenzo via Passo Lucese with an average 4.5 star rating from 52 community reviews. A unique park with mountainous peaks mixed with underground tunnels and caves. There are over 1300 caves throughout ...

  11. Itineraries

    Alpi Apuane Pania della Croce, ALPI APUANE, , ... Bagni di Lucca is the place to begin the hiking tour. You can reach the canyon and enjoy the place for hours together. You can find here unspoiled nature, and the amazing thermal spring can help you spend a good time. The Castelnuovo is located in Garfagnana is another place where you can begin ...

  12. Visiting Carrara Marble Quarries

    Michelangelo travelled to the Alpi Apuane to choose his marble, and eventually to open up rival quarries to those of Carrara for his patrons the Medici. Michelangelo worked in the Serra gorge, favouring the whitest, most finely veined marble and he dreamed of carving the figure of a giant out of 5000 ft Monte Sagro.

  13. Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps

    The Regional Natural Park of the Apuan Alps (Parco Alpi Apuane) is a mountainous park known for its rugged landscape that's located along the northwestern coast of Italy. The park encompasses some of the highest peaks along the coastline. There are 251 named mountains in the park. The tallest and most prominent is Monte Pisanino at 1,947 m ...

  14. Alpi Apuane, Monte Pesaro, Lorano Wall " La Baraka"

    Find Tours. Apuan Alps, Monte Pesaro, Lorano Wall " La Baraka". THE BARAKA. The Baraka (by R. Vigiani) ... "Bàraka" because it takes luck to find a wall on the Apuane Alps that is still virgin and on it to trace a route that, although it seems very difficult to look at, has allowed us to climb it with difficulties that all in all were more ...

  15. Apuan Alps

    Northern view of the Pizzo d'Uccello. The Apuan Alps (Italian: Alpi Apuane) are a mountain range in northern Tuscany, Italy.They are included between the valleys of the Serchio and Magra rivers, and, to the northwest, the Garfagnana and Lunigiana, with a total length of approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi).. The name derives from the Apuani Ligures tribe that lived there in ancient times.

  16. Exploring Ligurian Coast, Cinque Terre and the Alpi Apuane

    Piazza del Duomo. On the corner of Via Padre e Barsanti and Piazza del Duomo is a plaque recording that Michelangelo signed a contract in 1518 on this spot to do the façade of San Lorenzo in Florence.. The Duomo, dedicated to San Martino and begun in the mid-13th century, is undergoing a lengthy restoration and is at present closed to the public.Most of the art inside dates from the 16th and ...

  17. Parco regionale delle Alpi Apuane

    meteo Toscana-Alpi Apuane da LaMMa Tuscany-Apuan Alps by LaMMa . da /by www.meteoapuane.it. Immagini Meteosat Meteosat images da / by www.sat24.com. TUTTI I DATI IN TEMPO REALE Bosa di Careggine Fociomboli . DATI STORICI. BOSA. 2021 Gennaio Febbraio Marzo Aprile Maggio Giugno Luglio Agosto Settembre Ottobre Novembre Dicembre. 2022 Gennaio ...

  18. Mountain Hikes around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane

    In this guide, we've reviewed our full collection of mountain hikes around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane to bring you the top 13 routes in the region. To see which Tour is right for you, browse real photos and tips uploaded by other mountain hikers, see detail-rich breakdowns at the click of a button—and find your perfect route ...

  19. 6 giorni alla scoperta delle Apuane

    Idee e consigli per fare trekking in Toscana: 6 giorni sulle Alpi Apuane, ... Un tour dedicato agli escursionisti, toccando i luoghi più affascinanti delle Alpi della Toscana. ... La porta di ingresso alle Apuane è Carrara, città nata ai piedi di queste montagne. L'escursione in programma per la prima giornata non è delle più lunghe e c ...

  20. Best Mountain Biking Trails in Apuan Alps Regional Natural Park

    The route continues with the tour arriving at Monte Prana (1091m) and subsequently at Monte Pedone (1013m), where it is possible to see a breathtaking panorama. ... The Alta Via delle Alpi Apuane runs through the group from North West to South East. The long crossing takes place in eight segments, six of which are at high altitudes. The route ...

  21. Hiking around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane

    Then browse our collection of routes around this beautiful natural park in Lucca below. We present you with a total of 10 hiking trails around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane — all you've got to do is pick your favorite and get going. Acquasparta, Prati Campocecina, Rifugio Carrara, Monte Sagro — Giro ad anello. Expert. 04:21 ...

  22. Attractions around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane

    There are plenty of places to see and visit around Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane. Whether you love hiking or cycling, Parco naturale regionale delle Alpi Apuane is a region where 20 hidden gems are waiting to be explored and visited. Check the top places to visit in the region and plan your next adventure today.

  23. Jeep Tour at Alpi Apuane with Light Lunch

    Live an adventurous day in Alpe Apuane. Discover famous marble caves and learn all about the extraction and the history of this precious material. Enjoy famous Lardo di Colonnata tasting with a glass of fine local wine.

  24. GTO Legacy Tour 2024

    Quella dedicata alla Ferrari GTO sarà la seconda edizione del Legacy Tour, dopo la prima esperienza a tema F40 svoltasi nel 2023. L'evento ha visto coinvolti 39 equipaggi in un itinerario che da Forte dei Marmi, attraverso le Alpi Apuane e le campagne toscane, è giunto a Maranello. Il Legacy Tour 2024 avrà invece inizio in Val Rendena.