The Path of the Roe
Piteccio - Vignacci - Piteccio
CARD
Length: Km: 2.50
Type of terrain: asphalt and equipped path.
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1h
Minimum altitude: 240 meters above sea level
Maximum altitude: 388 meters above sea level
Type: ring
Terrain: asphalt 40% - path 60%
Departure: Piteccio square
Arrival: Piazza di Piteccio
Also suitable for:
- Trail runnig (easy)
- MTB (medium difficulty)
Description
From the town square you can admire the railway bridge from below, the bridge was rebuilt after the war, the old one was blown up in 1944 by the retreating German soldiers. However, large sections of the old bridge remain in the area, on some of them you can also see the holes for placing the explosives.
The displacement of air caused by the explosion caused the monument to the fallen of the First World War positioned in the garden below, to move from its base. The monument was left in that position as evidence of what happened and to convey to the visitor the extent of the force of the explosion. In the square there is also a war memorial and a playground for children.
The route begins on the asphalted road that remains between the post office and the Castagno stream passing under the arch of the railway bridge.
Along the way you can see the foundations of the old bridge on which the new pylons were built. You can see the valuable quality of the materials used, stones chiseled by hand with surprising precision and the construction technique based on the use of lime. In clear contrast to the reinforced concrete of the new bridge.
After about ten minutes you reach the level of the railway floor and then the former building of the electrical systems of the station.
From here, take the old road to the town of Castagno. A mule track recently cleaned through works as part of a project of the District 3, on the left you can see a canalization work of fine workmanship.
After another 10-15 minutes of walking, the mule track leads to a bend in the new road in the village of Castagno.
Continue along the asphalted road along it downhill towards Piteccio, up to the entrance, about 500 meters ahead of a smaller road on the left.
After a few meters there is a small bridge. Immediately on the left after the bridge you can see a hydraulic tunnel and a little further on, moving towards the wood, the Castagno railway trench built to ventilate the tunnel. Peculiarity of the work is that the river level is higher than the railway level.
Continuing uphill we arrive at the town of Vignacci. Downstream of the road along the slope you can see a small stone building that was used as a forge to make the tools necessary for the construction of the railway. From here you can also enjoy an excellent view of the valley and the Piteccio bridge.
Further on, you will find the Vignacci railway trench and a hydraulic work that channels the waters to protect it. Starting to go down, on the left, we find a ventilation chimney with a circular base of the gallery below, the structure is in excellent condition.
A little further along the path there is a service bridge, dating back to the time of the construction of the railway, on the right protected by a gate you can see an interception tunnel of the tunnel.
The path continues downhill and reconnects to the main road to Fabbiana.
Definitely interesting itinerary, suitable for everyone; there are no difficult or particularly steep passages, part of the route is on a paved road and the part on the path is in any case all in excellent condition and therefore already usable.
The itinerary is related to industrial archeology but also interesting from a naturalistic point of view: you can observe many botanical species and many birds, such as blackcap, finch, blue tit, great tit, green woodpecker etc. However, the itinerary assumes great value thanks to the accompaniment of local guides who describe each artifact with great passion and tell anecdotes and events experienced by the local people. What is most striking and sobering is that each stone speaks of a time where things were done perhaps with little means but with great passion and craftsmanship, and above all they were made to last over time, with an eye to the new generations. Along the way, the contrast between the works dating back to the time of the construction of the railway and the subsequent works is striking.
Note:
The interior of the Piteccio station is also fascinating, in use by the Pro Loco and where there are also models of the new and old bridge and made by the Federmodellisti Association. Also worth visiting is the nearby Piteccio railway station where the seats of the salvage and crossing tracks, the old hydraulic columns and the octagonal water tank that were used to supply the steam trains are still visible. The interior of the Piteccio station is also fascinating, in use by the Pro Loco and where there are also models of the new and old bridge and made by the Federmodellisti Association.
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