Introduction: The route starts and ends at Caprese Michelangelo, the small village that was the birthplace of the greatest artist of the Renaissance; it runs along the eastern spurs of the Alpe di Catenaia, following for some stretches the Grande Escursione Appenninica, the route that crosses the whole Tyrrhenian-Adriatic watershed ridge. Among the most interesting features of this proposal are the passage by the Eremo della Casella and the climb to Sasso della Regina, one of the highest points of the Alpe, from where you can admire an extraordinary panorama. We strongly recommend completing the hike with a visit to the historic centre of Caprese Michelangelo.
Route characteristics: a rather long hike but of moderate physical effort, with no technical difficulty at all. Water available at several points along the route. Normal equipment for medium-difficulty hikes required.
The overnight stop is at Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe, between the first and the second day.
Route description
Day 1:
Caprese M. (550 m) – Lama (520 m) – Valboncione (730 m) – Junction with path 084 (960 m) – Fosso dell'Orsaia (930 m) – Sasso della Regina (1250 m) – Sgolo dei Rogai (1155 m) – Rif. Casina dell'Alpe (970 m)
From the centre of Caprese Michelangelo you walk 1.5 km along the provincial road (GEA path, the Grande Escursione Appenninica) to Lama. We advise against keeping left on path 080, which would lead directly to Valboncione but is impassable in places; it is better to follow the GEA to the right, which shortly afterwards brings you back onto the tarmac road to Fragaiolo. Just after the village you leave the GEA, which carries straight on, and keep following the tarmac to Valboncione, where you finally pick up path 080 again. You climb for 3.2 km until you meet path 084; carry straight on, leaving path 080 for good. Apart from a short descent to the Fosso dell'Orsaia, the path climbs steadily until it meets path 50 at 1230 m; turn right and after 300 m you reach the vast grassy plateau of Sasso della Regina. This is the highest point of the hike: the panorama is remarkable, taking in the Casentino, the Valtiberina and a good part of the Umbrian-Marche Apennines. You descend following path 50, always along the ridge, to the important junction of Sgolo dei Rogai, where you leave path 50 for good and take path 028; after 1 km of descent, watch out for another junction (1075 m), where you take path 029 to the right, after a metal barrier. The last 2 km of descent, first through fine beech woods and then along a comfortable forest track, bring you to Casina dell'Alpe
Day 2:
Rif. Casina dell'Alpe (970 m) – M. Foresto (1220 m) – Eremo della Casella (1260 m) – M. Foresto (1220 m) – Croce al Varco (1090 m) – La Mazzola (720 m) – Molino di Rovalsa (550 m) – Balza di S. Francesco (800 m) – Junction with the GEA (590 m) – Caprese M. (550 m)
You climb back to the junction 800 m uphill of Casina dell'Alpe, where you take path 030 to the left; the forest track goes into a fine beech wood until it reaches a path that climbs abruptly to the right, scrambling up through the wood. You come out on the ridge near Monte Foresto and, carrying on to the right for 400 m (path 50–GEA), you reach the Eremo della Casella, where you can stop and admire a vast panorama. Back at M. Foresto, you continue along the broad, panoramic ridge to the important crossroads of Croce al Varco; here you leave path 50 and take path 039 to the right. The path descends towards the SP54 and crosses it several times, reaching first the hamlet of La Mazzola and then the floor of the Singerna valley, at the Molino di Rovalsa, still perfectly preserved. Once across the stream, you climb back up a long series of tight hairpins to the Balza di S. Francesco (a singular rock where tradition has it that the Saint rested on his journey from Assisi to La Verna), where you meet path 088. Turn right and begin the final descent: after the locality of La Greppia (610 m), you meet the tarmac road and the GEA; at Tifi (530 m) you leave the tarmac to follow the GEA to the right, which after about 1.5 km brings you to Caprese Michelangelo.
Variants and alternatives
Numerous; see the hiking map “Fra Arno e Tevere” - scale 1:25,000 - publ. Selca – Florence 1998, with accompanying path guide.
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe; hotels and hostels in Caprese Michelangelo; Fonte della Galletta hotel-restaurant
Frequently asked questions
How long is the "In the footsteps of Michelangelo" loop?
It takes two days of walking: about 6 hours 30 minutes on the first, with 760 m of ascent, and 6 hours on the second, with 560 m of ascent and 970 m of descent. You sleep at Rifugio Casina dell'Alpe and return to Caprese Michelangelo.
Is it suitable for children?
No, the fact sheet advises against it for children because of its length. It has no technical difficulties: it runs mostly along comfortable forest tracks and wide ridge paths, with water available at several points along the route.