THE PIACENTINA ROUTE VARIANT - STAGE 1
From Travo (PC) to Passo Penice (PV-PC)
Length of the stage: Km 26
Elevation gain: m 1800 Elevation loss: m 850 |
ELEVATION PROFILE STAGE 1
(click to open the graph) |
WAYMARKS:
Long stretches marked by red-white paint waymarks.
Waymarks will be replaced by the end of the year.
Waymarks will be replaced by the end of the year.
From the town of Travo m 171 sl, on the left side of Trebbia river, following Strada Nuova uphill, we reach Villa Nera hamlet m 225 sl, Bertoni hamlet m 297 sl and Azzano hamlet m 365 sl and, further ahead, Tradoni m 398 sl and Perdono m 518 sl; we enter into mixed woods until Cà del Bulla hamlet m 621 sl.
We follow the ridge between Luretta valley (north) and Dorba valley (south), overcoming Costa del Grillo m 608 sl, Case Rotte m 555 sl and Cassero m 550 sl; on the left, below, we can see the tower of Bobbiano m 465 sl and the adjacent little church of St. Michael; as we look up, we see Pietra Parcellara m 836 sl and Pietra Perduca m 547 sl with its ancient religious building of St. Anne.
We follow the ridge between Luretta valley (north) and Dorba valley (south), overcoming Costa del Grillo m 608 sl, Case Rotte m 555 sl and Cassero m 550 sl; on the left, below, we can see the tower of Bobbiano m 465 sl and the adjacent little church of St. Michael; as we look up, we see Pietra Parcellara m 836 sl and Pietra Perduca m 547 sl with its ancient religious building of St. Anne.

We preceed until a panoramic viewpoint on the Trebbia valley and we quickly reach SP 63 road; we follow this road until Caldarola pass m 750 sl and SP65 road, which links the towns of Mezzano Scotti and Piozzano.
The route continues on a large mule-track in the woods, along the south slopes of Monte Variola m 875 sl and the north slopes of Monte Lazzaro m 987 sl, then reaches Costa della Pianazza m 922 sl, Costa della Rasa m 888 sl, the south-east slopes m 923 sl of Monte Mosso m 1.008 sl and Colle Crocetta di Cicogni m 942 sl until Passo Crocetta m 873 sl, on SP34 road which links Bobbio (Trebbia valley) to Pecorara (Tidone valley).
We follow the road for some meters to the left, then we enter, on the right, a mule-track uphill towards Monte Sorbel m 926 sl, and further towards Pietra Corva or Pietra di Corvo m 1.078 sl; we go around Pietra Corva, following the north-east slopes m 1.025 sl, ans Pan Perduto m 1.065 sl, now following its west slope m 1.022 sl on a flat path.
The route continues on a large mule-track in the woods, along the south slopes of Monte Variola m 875 sl and the north slopes of Monte Lazzaro m 987 sl, then reaches Costa della Pianazza m 922 sl, Costa della Rasa m 888 sl, the south-east slopes m 923 sl of Monte Mosso m 1.008 sl and Colle Crocetta di Cicogni m 942 sl until Passo Crocetta m 873 sl, on SP34 road which links Bobbio (Trebbia valley) to Pecorara (Tidone valley).
We follow the road for some meters to the left, then we enter, on the right, a mule-track uphill towards Monte Sorbel m 926 sl, and further towards Pietra Corva or Pietra di Corvo m 1.078 sl; we go around Pietra Corva, following the north-east slopes m 1.025 sl, ans Pan Perduto m 1.065 sl, now following its west slope m 1.022 sl on a flat path.

We reach m 1.035 sl and continue towards Sassi Neri, passing through Laghetto hamlet m 1.026 sl and Madonnina m 1.041 sl (with its votive cross).
We proceed towards Sassi Neri pass m 1.075 sl, then we go under Monte Castellaro slopes m 1.083 sl and, shortly after, we go downhill on SP412R road which links Romagnese and Casa Matti (Tidone valley) and SP461 road Varzi-Bobbio.
As we cross the road, we continue our trail along a path until we reach Passo Penice m 1.140 sl.
We proceed towards Sassi Neri pass m 1.075 sl, then we go under Monte Castellaro slopes m 1.083 sl and, shortly after, we go downhill on SP412R road which links Romagnese and Casa Matti (Tidone valley) and SP461 road Varzi-Bobbio.
As we cross the road, we continue our trail along a path until we reach Passo Penice m 1.140 sl.