Here is the route
What you will see
At a glance
Up and down
Description
The route starts in Petrara, the first village you encounter when traveling from Frontone toward Serra Sant'Abbondio. Parking is easy near the first houses.
Take the only road through the hamlet of Petrara. After about 600 meters, you'll find signs on the right for the Madonna del Grottone, an imposing rocky amphitheater, reachable on foot and absolutely worth visiting. However, for this route, take the left, where the paved road turns into a gravel road.
A climb begins, first gentle, then more steep, along the Palombara Valley. After passing a large, now disused quarry, the road bends left, still climbing, to reach the highest point of the route, at a saddle, where, with a very short detour across a meadow, the view opens up towards Serra Sant'Abbondio.
Leave the dirt road and take a comfortable grassy dirt track on the left, where the return descent begins. The road, called Via Cupa, runs along the western slopes of the two hills: Poggio Pantanello, the first one you come to, and Poggio Pantano.
As you descend, you can admire the jagged rock faces on the hills to your left. Continuing, you'll first come across a watering hole and then a cattle gate. At a fork, turn left and follow the descent, which now becomes quite steep.
In a few minutes, you'll reach the few houses of Pianello, another hamlet of Serra Sant'Abbondio. Continue along the paved road until you reach the provincial road. Turn left to return to the starting point in 10 minutes. Unfortunately, there's no way to avoid the short stretch of the provincial road. There's little traffic, but still, be careful.
Notable places
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