On mountain bike amid the castles surrounding Sarzana
From Sarzana, on the Aurelia main road, follow the directions for Falcinello (303 m), on a road which initially is not particularly difficult, but which becomes increasingly challenging as it gets closer and closer to Falcinello, with hairpin turns near the town. Past the village, continue in the direction of Ponzano Superiore (292 m), on a road which is asphalted but in poor condition which, with several ups-and-downs meets a crossroads in proximity to the town. At the crossroads, take the small road to the right in the direction of Caprigliola. After less than 2 km, on a rather steep descent, there is a road that goes uphill to the right leading to a road on the slope of Mt. Chiappero, passing through Il Monte (400 m) and which continues with lovely views over Val di Magra and on the Spezia Gulf. Along the trail there are many minor intersections, ignore them all, until you reach an evident crossroads where the trail goes to the right. Up to this point the road is uphill, at this point it levels out for a good stretch, as it skirts the slopes of Mt. Boscoleto (530 m), after which it descends to the clearing in front of a restaurant and then on to the vehicle road coming from Sarzana. Follow the road uphill, after about 1.5 km you will reach the crossroads for Ponzanello, where the white-red markers start for the ?Lunigiana Trekking?; follow them and you will reach Ponzanello (530 m), where you can visit the ruins of the Castle. Follow the route back to the crossroads just mentioned and, after a short stretch, go down to the right on a mule track which meets the road a little further down, just after the town of Le Prade (510 m). When you reach the road, turn left and then right and uphill until you reach the slopes of Mt. Nebbione (610 m), until the road begins to descend, first to the Foce Cuccu (520 m), and then on to Fosdinovo Castle (500 m ? always following the white-red markers).
Past the castle and once you have crossed the village, you come to main road 446 which you follow to the crossroads for Paghezzana (210 m). From here we leave the state road, go down along a narrow road until you reach via Fusicchio (road sign), and you are back on the flagged road that leads first to the Castruccio Castracane Fortress (88 m) and then continues down to Sarzana (28 m).
A12 Genoa-Livorno Motorway, exit at Sarzana.
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Length: 33 km
Difficulty: E
Altitude: max. 610 m
Dirt road: yes
Time necessary: 2.5 hours
Recommended season: all
Difference in level: max. 780 m
Ospitality in this area:
Stages of other paths