Stage 16
Montecreto-Pievepelago-Fiumalbo
A true mountain stage, not very long but challenging due to the altitude differences, which however amply rewards the efforts made. The first stretch runs along woodland paths, which lead to the beautiful semi-abandoned ancient village of Magrignana. A few kilometers later you cross the first of the three magnificent bridges that we encounter in this stage, a testimony to the ancient passages: the Ponte di San Bartolomeo. One more effort and you arrive, climbing, at a characteristic horizontal-wheel water mill, perched on the banks of a rushing stream. You then come across the village of Riolunato, which has an interesting historic center. In the shadow of Cimone Mountain you climb further towards the Tuscan-Emilian border.
The itinerary, as mentioned in the previous stage, offers two variants once you arrive near Pievepelago in Serra Street, just before the Fola Bridge: the classic itinerary approaches the second beautiful bridge (the Fola Bridge, from the nearby village) and goes close to the center of the town of Pievepelago, where a possible stop allows you to access many services; the other variant (Stage 16a) after the Ponte della Fola remains upstream of the Torrente Scoltenna, and passes through the village of San Michele. Just before Fiumalbo (a town with an orange flag from the Italian Touring Club, also famous for its croccante, margolfe and living Christmas nativity scene), you come across the third bridge called “Upper Fola Bridge” (or “Devil Bridge”) also made with a humpback and built over the Torrente Scoltenna which has dug a fairytale gorge, which has nothing to envy to similar gorges in the Dolomites. The historic center of Fiumalbo, which we will reach at the end of the stage, is very suggestive and certainly worth a visit.
Distance : 19,7 Km
Time : 6 hours
Terrain: paths, country roads
Height difference + : 1500 m
Height difference – : 1426 m
Altitude max : 984 m
Altitude min : 596 m