Introduction: The first part of the route winds along the hydrographic right 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 of the Rassina, you climb the first rises of the Alpe di Catenaia up to Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe.
On the second day you go down to the village of Chitignano and, crossing back to the right of the Rassina, you return to the starting point, retracing a short stretch of the outward route.
Rassina can also be reached easily by train (RFT line Arezzo-Stia).
Route characteristics: a fairly long hike but of moderate physical effort, with no technical difficulty at all. Water available at several points along the way. Normal gear for hikes of medium difficulty required. A walk of moderate effort through woods and old villages.
Route description
Day 1:
Rassina (300 m) – Taena (510 m) – Point 460 – 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 you take the SP60 (signposted Chiusi della Verna) and shortly afterwards turn left, following the signs for Gargiano (path 033); by the last two houses you leave the tarmac and take the cart track on the right. The road, which still has its old stone bed and its dry-stone retaining walls, leads to Taena; you follow the tarmac as far as Rosina (490 m) and, just after 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: the detour lets you reach Sarna, a beautiful village made up of an ancient 13th-century castelliere (fortified hamlet), which 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.
You set off again following path 042, towards the cemetery; a short, somewhat awkward stretch (uneven, overgrown path) brings you back onto path 033. You carry on along the hillside on the main track, ignoring a few junctions, until you reach the important junction with path 034; you follow the latter, leaving path 033 for good, to go down to the floor of the Rassina valley at Molino di Fognano. You climb back up to the SP60 and, once across it, follow the wide forest road (path 025) and the signs for Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe. At the junction by Casa Montefresco (925 m) you go 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) – Casa Montefresco (930 m) – Passo della Crocina (900 m) – Chiusa di Chitignano (540 m) – Junction for Taena (400 m) - Taena (510 m) - Rassina (300 m).
You go back to the Casa Montefresco junction and turn left following path 025; the forest road winds wide and easy through woods of beech, Turkey oak and chestnut, but you need to watch out for the many junctions: at the first two keep left until you join path 028, taking it to the right. After a few dozen metres you reach the important crossroads of Passo della Crocina; here you turn left, following path 031, which goes down to the Chiusa di Chitignano, a little below the centre of the village (Variant: from Passo della Crocina you can go down to the centre of Chitignano, following path 028).
Once you reach the SP60, follow it downhill for 2.5 km until you come to the junction for Taena. Tip: just after reaching the SP60, you can make a very short detour (sign on the left) to the Castello degli Ubertini. Very ancient in origin, it was rebuilt in the 1500s according to the canons of the “Tuscan Cinquecento” and is one of the best-preserved castles in the Casentino.
Another 2 km of tarmac lead to Taena, where you meet path 033; you return to Rassina retracing the first stretch of the first day's route.
Variants and alternatives
Many variants are possible; we recommend consulting the hiking map “Fra Arno e Tevere” - scale 1:25,000 - published by Selca – Florence 1998, with its accompanying path guide.
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe; Castello di Sarna (apartments).
Frequently asked questions
How long does the hike through the villages of the Val Rassina take?
You walk for two days: about 6 hours 30 minutes and 17 km on the first, as far as Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe, and 5 hours 30 minutes and 15 km on the second, returning to Rassina by way of Chitignano.
Can you get to Rassina by train?
Yes, Rassina is easily reached by train on the Arezzo-Stia line, and the route starts and ends right there. So, without a car, you can take the two stages through woods and old villages at an easy pace.