It starts from Verghereto, in the heart of the Apennines between Romagna and Tuscany, in the Upper Savio Valley, and continues on the slopes of Monte Comero among fascinating lakes until you reach the wonderful and ancient village of Bagno di Romagna, welcomed by warm thermal waters and the hospitality of the gnomes.
It starts from Verghereto, in the heart of the Apennines between Romagna and Tuscany, in the Upper Savio Valley.
Verghereto is a municipality of great naturalistic value, with Mount Fumaiolo of 1,408 meters, the highest peak of the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines, from which the three rivers Tiber, Savio and Marecchia arise. There are many tourist attractions, including truffle fields, chestnut woods, trekking routes to be covered on foot, with snowshoes, or by bike.
Half a day is enough to disconnect from everyday life and immerse yourself in the silence of the woods of Monte Fumaiolo, ready to welcome you with numerous proposals for excursions on well-marked paths, for example to the source of the Tiber or the sources of the Savio, with or without a guide.
At the end of the excursion, or if you want alternatively, you can go down to Alfero or Acquapartita, two hamlets immersed in one of the largest chestnut groves in Europe, to have the experience of chestnuts, the chestnut harvest at private farms that open their doors to tourists. And in Romagna, when the doors are opened, they open with a smile, a handshake and a chat over a glass of wine and maybe a slice of castagnaccio, the typical dessert made with chestnut flour.
You can spend the night in one of the accommodation facilities in the area and, if you are lucky, you can experience listening to the bleats of deer, the poignant cry of love of these animals that can normally be heard between the end of September and the beginning of October.
Some facilities also offer packages with dinner and night trips inside the Casentinesi Forest Park, which is home to numerous deer.
The itinerary continues with the morning dedicated to other treasures of the forest: porcini mushrooms, cockerels, blackthorns, truffles ... Don't think about finding directions on where to go and pick mushrooms, it is one of the most secret secrets of the valley.
But we can assure you that the slopes of Monte Còmero, between Selvapiana and the lakes (Lago Pontini, Lago Lungo, Lago Acquapartita) are the hunting ground for many local mushroom pickers or truffle hunters: go out early in the morning, with the lagotto dog at your side, the classic wicker basket, and with lots of goodwill and patience it can be a very rewarding experience.
Bagno di Romagna is a millenary village, Orange Flag of Touring, famous for its thermal waters since Roman times, gateway to the Casentinesi Forests Park, temple of slow living: with its buildings designed by the long Florentine domination and unique attractions like the Path of the Gnomes or Wellness Woods, here you can breathe the nature of an Apennine village suspended between two lands.
The itinerary obviously ends at the table: in the area there are at least fifty restaurants, including traditional taverns and starred restaurants, which offer the best of Tuscan-Romagna cuisine: from tortelli alla lastra stuffed with potatoes or herbs, to the excellent meat of the Romagnola pig breed raised outdoors in the neighboring pastures, from croutons with mushrooms to stuffed pasta seasoned with truffles: a menu to make you lick your lips.
