Introduction: The first part of the route winds along the right bank (looking downstream) of the Rassina stream, partly following the old customs road that linked Rassina with La Verna; the route lets you visit some characteristic villages such as Taena, Rosina, Croce di Sarna and the castle of Sarna. Once across to the left bank of the Rassina, you climb the first hills of the Alpe di Catenaia as far as the Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe.
On the second day you complete the traverse of the Alpe di Catenaia with a long ridge walk, right in the middle of one of the most beautiful and interesting areas in the province of Arezzo, reaching all the highest points of the massif; particularly striking is the great abundance of water, witnessed by the many springs you meet along the way; the most famous of these is the Fonte del Baregno, set in the middle of a wide clearing.
The route is easy to manage by train, since the start and end points are stops on the RFT Arezzo-Stia line, and it can be walked in either direction.
Route characteristics: a very long hike but with no technical difficulty at all. Water available at several points along the way. Normal equipment for moderately difficult hikes required.
Route description
Day 1:
Rassina (300 m) – Taena (510 m) – Spot height 460 m – Croce di Sarna - Sarna (620 m) – Junction of paths 042/043 (775 m) – Junction of paths 033/034 (850 m) – Molino di Fognano (635 m) – SP 60 (710 m) – Pian d'Acero (930 m) – Rif. Casina dell'Alpe (970 m)
From Rassina take the SP60 (signposted Chiusi della Verna) and shortly afterwards turn left, following the signs for Gargiano (path 033); at the last two houses, leave the tarmac and take the cart track on the right. The road, which still has its old stone bed and dry-stone retaining walls, leads to Taena; follow the tarmac as far as Rosina (490 m) and, just past the village, leave the tarmac to pick up the old road again, which with a few steep bends leads to Croce di Sarna.
You rejoin the tarmac road and take it to the left, leaving path 033: this detour lets you reach Sarna, a beautiful village formed by an ancient 13th-century fortified settlement that still keeps most of its outer walls intact. The houses inside the castle have been perfectly restored; the village deserves a long stop to appreciate its medieval charm.
Set off again on path 042, towards the cemetery; a short, somewhat awkward stretch (uneven, overgrown path) brings you back to path 033. Carry on along the hillside on the main track, ignoring a few crossroads, until you reach the important junction with path 034; follow the latter, leaving path 033 for good, to drop down to the floor of the Rassina valley at the Molino di Fognano. Climb back up to the SP60 and, once across it, follow the wide forest road (path 025) and the signs for the Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe. At the junction by Casa Montefresco (925 m) turn left (path 029); a last stretch of forest road, with a fine view over the Casentino, leads to the hut.
Day 2:
Rif. Casina dell'Alpe (970 m) - Sgolo dei Rogai (1155 m) – Sasso della Regina (1250 m) – Monte Castello (1415 m) – Pozza delle Stroscie (1340 m) – Fonte del Baregno (1180 m) – Case Taverni (1050 m) – Falciano (530 m) – Subbiano (270 m).
From the hut pick up the forest road again (path 029) as far as a junction, where you turn right into the beech wood; at the junction at 1075 m turn left (path 028), carrying on uphill to the Sgolo dei Rogai; take the wide ridge road on the right (paths 50 and 014), which crosses vast summit grasslands to the Sasso della Regina, where the sweep of the view invites a stop. The ridge route carries on over Monte Castello, the highest point of the massif, over Monte Altuccia and on to the Pozza delle Stroscie, an unusual pool surrounded by centuries-old beeches. Turn sharply right (path 013) and drop through a lovely beech wood to the Fonte del Baregno (an excellent place for a break). Take the forest road (path 03), which leads to Casa Taverni (a well-restored former farmhouse), where you turn right (path 04) to begin the long descent to Falciano.
From Falciano, unfortunately only on weekdays, you can take the bus to Subbiano; otherwise you have to walk the last 5 km on tarmac, first on the SP57 and then on the SS71.
Variants and alternatives
Many possible variants: see the hiking map “Fra Arno e Tevere” - scale 1:25,000 - published by Selca – Florence 1998, with accompanying path guide
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe; Castello di Sarna (apartments); Agriturismo Casina della Burraia
Frequently asked questions
Can you do the Alpe di Catenaia traverse by train?
Yes. Rassina, the starting point, and Subbiano, the finishing point, are stops on the Arezzo-Stia line: the traverse is easy to manage by train and can be walked in either direction. From Falciano, on weekdays only, there is a bus to Subbiano.
Where do you sleep on the Alpe di Catenaia traverse?
The overnight stop is the Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe, at 970 m, reached at the end of the first day after the climb from Rassina via Taena and Sarna. The fact sheet also mentions apartments at the Castello di Sarna and the Casina della Burraia agriturismo.