17 - Carnè - Marradi

A long hilly stage, this one mainly keeps on the ridge between the valleys of the Senio and Lamone.

• Departure: Carnè (370m)
• Arrival: Marradi (328m)
• Duration: 8 hour/s
• Difficulty Level: EE (for experienced hikers)
• Length: 29.8 km
• Difference in height: Uphill 1,260m - Downhill 1,300m
• Marradi
• Lap no.17 Alta Via dei Parchi

Accommodation: Hotel Le Scalelle, Hotel Il Lago, Coop Aurea, Rifugio Fontana Moneta

From the Cà Carnè visitor center one goes uphill to the asphalt road above and then continues along the ridge into the open hilly landscape, dotted with pine trees and the silvery patches of olive groves, passing the road that descends to Fognano, and passing near Torre Pratesi. Shortly afterwards, the asphalt road goes downhill, whereas the Alta Via follows the forest road that skirts Mount Giornetto. It continues with long ups and downs among increasingly wooded hills, bypasses some hill tops by way of little trails, and finally gets to the buildings of the Cà di Malanca, which have been restored and turned into a Museum of the Resistance. Shortly afterwards the route takes a detour down the wooded valley of Sintria, where one touches the church and buildings of Fontana Moneta before going back up to the ridge. Going on, one passes close to Mount Gamberaldi (828 m), enjoying beautiful views of the village of the same name, and then reaches the fork in the mule track that was for centuries the main link between Palazzuolo sul Senio and Marradi. At the junction of Cà Mondera one leaves the ridge to start the descent towards the bottom of the valley of the Lamone, which ends near the railway station in Marradi.