THE PIACENTINA ROUTE VARIANT - STAGE 2
From Passo Penice (PV-PC) to Capanne di Cosola (AL)
Length of the stage: Km 23,5
Elevation gain: m 1700 Elevation loss: m 1360 |
ELEVATION PROFILE STAGE 2
(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.
Starting from Passo Penice m 1140 sl, you go towards Passo Scaparina following one of these two alternative ways (BOTH REPORTED IN THE GPX TRACK):
1) following the contour line on the eastern side of Monte Penice, walking SP 461 road downhill towards Bobbio; after about 100 meters, you take the Circumpenicina path on the right; at the end of the path, you take the asphalted road on the right uphill for 250 meters, until you reach Passo Scaparina (thi is the suggested way because of the poor conditions of the ridge path between Monte Penice and Passo Scaparina, which is described below);
1) following the contour line on the eastern side of Monte Penice, walking SP 461 road downhill towards Bobbio; after about 100 meters, you take the Circumpenicina path on the right; at the end of the path, you take the asphalted road on the right uphill for 250 meters, until you reach Passo Scaparina (thi is the suggested way because of the poor conditions of the ridge path between Monte Penice and Passo Scaparina, which is described below);

2) walking uphill the Monte Penice asphalted road until the top of the mount, where you can visit the sanctuary dedicated to Virgin Mary at m 1460 sl and enjoy the amazing panoramic view. Then go downhill to the west, at first on the grass and then on a stony dirt road on a steep slope, passing through Case Prato del Broglio m 1199 slm, until Passo Scaparina m 1095 sl.
From Passo Scaparina you walk towards Brallo di Pregola on the asphalted road cutting off the slopes of Monte Scaparina and Cima Vallescura, then you turn left walking on a path in the pinewood until Passo Vallette di Ceci m 1117 sl; you go ahead on the path into the beech wood towards La Faggeta Bivouac m 1100 sl.
The path enters a pineood in south-west direction; after 500 meters, you take the asphalted road on the right downhill and follow it for about 2 kilometers. As you reach SP 89 road, walk this road towards Brallo di Bregola town centre m 952 sl. At the traffic circle you take Via della Fontana street and you walk ahead until you reach SP 88 road. You go past the crossroad, then you turn left on the path that leads you the hamlet of Bocco m 1070 sl. You turn left uphill among the buildings until the old fountain m 1175 sl, then you enter the n. 109 Path on the right that climbs on the eastern side of Cima Colletta and meets on the ridge n. 101 Path.
You turn left again until you reach SP 88 road and Sella della Colla crossroad m 1430 sl; on the right you can enjoy the view on the town of Negruzzo in Staffora Valley, while on the left you can glimpse the towns of Feligara, Colleri, Collistano, Pratolungo and Rovaiolo Nuovo.
From Passo Scaparina you walk towards Brallo di Pregola on the asphalted road cutting off the slopes of Monte Scaparina and Cima Vallescura, then you turn left walking on a path in the pinewood until Passo Vallette di Ceci m 1117 sl; you go ahead on the path into the beech wood towards La Faggeta Bivouac m 1100 sl.
The path enters a pineood in south-west direction; after 500 meters, you take the asphalted road on the right downhill and follow it for about 2 kilometers. As you reach SP 89 road, walk this road towards Brallo di Bregola town centre m 952 sl. At the traffic circle you take Via della Fontana street and you walk ahead until you reach SP 88 road. You go past the crossroad, then you turn left on the path that leads you the hamlet of Bocco m 1070 sl. You turn left uphill among the buildings until the old fountain m 1175 sl, then you enter the n. 109 Path on the right that climbs on the eastern side of Cima Colletta and meets on the ridge n. 101 Path.
You turn left again until you reach SP 88 road and Sella della Colla crossroad m 1430 sl; on the right you can enjoy the view on the town of Negruzzo in Staffora Valley, while on the left you can glimpse the towns of Feligara, Colleri, Collistano, Pratolungo and Rovaiolo Nuovo.

At the crossroad you can follow one of these two ways:
1) you can follow SP 88 road, crossing the road to Piani di Lesima and going ahead on the western slope of Monte La Colla and Monte Terme until Passo La Ritorta m 1448 sl. You continue on the asphalted road getting around Colle del Terme m 1490 sl and Monte Tartago m 1698 sl; you walk beyond Colle di Pej m 1377 sl and go ahead until Passo del Giovà m 1365, an important crossroad of Staffora Valley and Boreca Valley;
2) you can walk uphill towards Colle del Terme and Monte Tartago (you can divert and climb until the summit of Monte Lesima m 172 sl, where there is a votive cross and a radar installation. Retrace your steps, then you turn left on a narrow and steep path downhill, following the ridge between Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Regions, until the col of Colle di Pej. You walk on SP 88 road untill Passo del Giovà.
To finish the stage, you turn left on the asphalted road and, after about 15 minutes, you reach a church dedicated to Madonna della Salute m 1479, Capannette di Pej m 1463 sl and finally Capanne di Cosola m 1500 sl.
1) you can follow SP 88 road, crossing the road to Piani di Lesima and going ahead on the western slope of Monte La Colla and Monte Terme until Passo La Ritorta m 1448 sl. You continue on the asphalted road getting around Colle del Terme m 1490 sl and Monte Tartago m 1698 sl; you walk beyond Colle di Pej m 1377 sl and go ahead until Passo del Giovà m 1365, an important crossroad of Staffora Valley and Boreca Valley;
2) you can walk uphill towards Colle del Terme and Monte Tartago (you can divert and climb until the summit of Monte Lesima m 172 sl, where there is a votive cross and a radar installation. Retrace your steps, then you turn left on a narrow and steep path downhill, following the ridge between Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Regions, until the col of Colle di Pej. You walk on SP 88 road untill Passo del Giovà.
To finish the stage, you turn left on the asphalted road and, after about 15 minutes, you reach a church dedicated to Madonna della Salute m 1479, Capannette di Pej m 1463 sl and finally Capanne di Cosola m 1500 sl.