Via Vandelli

• Lunghezza:

  Da Modena 171 Km, da Sassuolo 152 km

• Tappe:

  7

• Partenza:

  Modena o Sassuolo

• Arrivo:

  Massa e Marina di Massa

HISTORY OF VIA VANDELLI

In the early eighteenth century, when Francesco III d’Este ascended to the throne of the Duchy of Modena, he wanted a modern road from his capital to the sea outlet he had recently obtained with the acquisition of the Duchy of Massa through the marriage of his son Ercole III to Maria Teresa Cybo Malaspina.

This “new road” was to be built in such a way that wagons and carriages could pass for trade and the rapid movement of travelers and the army. It was a visionary work at the time, and he called in the best engineer and geographer of his court to carry it out: mathematician Domenico Vandelli.

The genius of the designer is best expressed in the stone hairpin bends that can still be seen today among the Apuan Alps. The Via Vandelli, as it came to be called, was the prototype of modern roads, but it was also shortly afterwards overtaken by the rapid development of carriage roads. It was partly abandoned and partly continued to be traveled intensively by local inhabitants, but in a piecemeal fashion. Until in 2017 Giulio Ferrari with his research pieced together its original historical route, walking it in its entirety and then developing in the following years the hiking path of the Via Vandelli which in large part coincides with the 18th-century one.

Water sources are present on every STAGE, at the beginning and end and at least a couple along the way. Pay attention to the sixth STAGE: before the ascent to the Tambura Pass make a good supply in Vagli Sopra as you will not find water again until the Nello Conti refuge on the other side.

STAGE VIA VANDELLI

STAGE M1: Modena-Puianello, 27.2km, 410D+, 10D-

Departing from the Este palace in downtown Modena, a mostly flat STAGE in which we leave the city and then follow a long bicycle and pedestrian path alongside the Tiepido stream to the village of Torre Maina, where a short but intense climb to the Puianello Sanctuary begins.

STAGE M2: Puianello-Pavullo nel Frignano, 24.4km, 830D+, 595D-

Moving STAGE through the hills of Modena, in a mixed landscape of farmland and mountains. At the end of the STAGE is the Este ducal palace in Pavullo.

STAGE S1: Sassuolo-Serramazzoni, 19.9km, 895D+, 230D-

Departing from the summer ducal palace, in a few kilometers we immediately ascend the clay hills that take us through gullies and forests at altitude to the town of Serramazzoni. This stretch of Via Vandelli was built in the mid-18th century, a decade or so after the one from Modena.

STAGE S2: Serramazzoni-Pavullo nel Frignano, 12.9, 285D+, 400D-

Short stage that rejoins us with the main route of Via Vandelli: again we pass through fields and small villages to the Este ducal palace of Pavullo.

STAGE 3: Pavullo nel Frignano-La Santona, 25km, 960D+, 475D-

STAGE that goes deep into Frignano, we immediately encounter the castle of Montecuccolo, then the characteristic Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) and other villages that were born thanks to the passage of Via Vandelli, until we plunge into an ancient fir forest before reaching La Santona.

STAGE 4: La Santona-San Pellegrino in Alpe, 25.8km, 895D+, 540D-

STAGE that takes place entirely on the original eighteenth-century route, always at high altitude with splendid views of Mount Cimone. On the route you will encounter the Celtic hut of Cà Guerri, the eighteenth-century post station of La Fabbrica, and when you plunge into the Romanesque forest you will find the most beautiful stone paved section of the entire Via Vandelli Modenese. After the Lagadello pass at 1620m you quickly reach the ancient hospice of San Pellegrino.

STAGE 5: San Pellegrino in Alpe-Poggio, 25.8km, 395D+, 1455D-

STAGE that takes us into the heart of Garfagnana. It begins with a long, steep descent through the woods, where small clusters of houses that have sprung up around 18th-century inns appear at times. After Campori we continue on the long Edron through Pieve Fosciana to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, the Este capital of the area with its majestic fortress. The STAGE continues along the Serchio River and meets Pontecosi, charming on the lake. Before reaching Poggio, we cross the spectacular Villetta railroad-pedestrian bridge.

STAGE 6: Poggio-Campaniletti, 18.3km, 1380D+, 390D-

This is the STAGE of the great ascent among the Apuan Alps. It begins along the Edron stream to the Vagli Lake dam, which you then skirt until you reach Vagli Sopra. From here you first plunge into a panorama of marble quarries, then rise steeply to the 1620m Tambura Pass, from where you will see the sea. With a short downhill stretch you reach the Nello Conti refuge, the only structure present.

STAGE 7: Campaniletti-Massa-mare, 18.3+6.3km, 500D+, 1875D-

Last STAGE begins with the spectacular switchbacks built on dry stone walls to the village of Resceto. After skirting the Renara and Frigido streams, a route begins that retraces ancient mule tracks that unite the villages of the valley until Massa, where the walk ends in front of the Cybo-Malaspina ducal palace. For those who want to enjoy the walk to the fullest, you can go all the way to the sea on the beach, ending with an ideal Finis Terræ.

All the STAGES pass through cities or towns with all facilities. The only STAGES in which to be careful are STAGE 4 where no towns are encountered, but which remain a few kilometers downstream in case of need, and the crossing of the Apuan Alps, that is, the second part of STAGE 6 and the first part of STAGE 7, where between Vagli Sopra and Resceto the only support is the Nello Conti refuge and the area cannot be reached by motor vehicles.

There is CAI signage on the route, but in a discontinuous manner and with multiple numbering changes. While waiting for a unified approach, small adhesive arrows with the association’s logo have been affixed Via Vandelli. The use of the “Guide to the Via Vandelli” by G.Ferrari (Terre di mezzo) and/or the gpx tracks downloadable from the website www.viavandelli.com or follow navigate with theCammini d’Italia app.

No danger. The crossing of the Apuan Alps is done on an alpine-type trail.
The path of Via Vandelli is physically demanding in length and elevation gain, so some preparation is necessary.

60% trail, 40% asphalt

Credential: The wayfarer’s passport, freely downloadable from the website
https://sites.google.com/view/viavandelli/il-passaporto

VIA VANDELLI IN TENT

There are no specially designated areas for tents. Many hospitality facilities allow tents, but they are to be contacted in advance.

CONTACTS

Association: Via Vandelli APS
Website: www.viavandelli.com
Email: infoviavandelli@gmail.com
Facebook page: facebook.com/viaVandelli
Instagram: instagram.com/viavandellimoms
YouTube: youtube.com/c/ViaVandelli

FB group “the wayfarers of Via Vandelli”:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/