Piano Degli Ontani: Trails, Forest Reserve and Culture

Trails and Landscape Features in Pian degli Ontani

The circular route to the Torre del Fattucchio is 8 km long and has 270 metres of elevation gain. The Torre del Fattucchio trail begins in La Peschiera in Pian degli Ontani. For planning the day, the 8 kilometres and 270 metres of elevation gain can be considered separately, for example when scheduling breaks and organising the day.

The Torre del Fattucchio is a sandstone tower several dozen metres high that overlooks the Sestaione Valley. The Buca delle Fate is a small cavity in sandstone rocks from which air with a constant temperature rises. Here, sandstone shapes both a towering rock formation and a small cavity.

The Piano degli Ontani State Nature Reserve is an Apennine mountain landscape with beech forests, mixed mesophilic forests, ridge meadows and montane heathlands. The forest types are complemented by open ridge meadows and montane heathlands. The peaks of Poggione, Pizzo Alpestre and Monte Uccelliera rise along the upper ridge.

The "Fior di Pietra" visitor centre at the Biogenetic Reserve has an educational room. The centre offers environmental education activities and screenings of nature films. The themed exhibitions are both temporary and permanent. The educational room, environmental education activities, nature films and exhibitions represent different formats offered by the visitor centre.

Culture in Pian degli Ontani

The "Beatrice" park and cultural trail in Pian degli Ontani runs from the memorial plaque dedicated to Beatrice in Piazza Acerone, via the cultural park on Viale Beatrice, to La Frassa. Piazza Acerone, Viale Beatrice and La Frassa mark the sequence of the cultural trail.

Beatrice Bugelli, also known as Beatrice di Pian degli Ontani, was an illiterate shepherdess and poet who lived in the 19th century. Her improvised songs in ottava rima brought fame and recognition to the Sestaione Valley. The name Beatrice connects the cultural trail with the historical figure to whom the memorial plaque is dedicated.

The Church of Santi Maria e Cirillo in Pian degli Ontani became a parish church in 1785.

In earlier times, the area of Pian degli Ontani was probably a summer stage in the seasonal transhumance of shepherds. Transhumance refers to the seasonal movement between grazing grounds; the historical classification of the area is explicitly still considered probable.

Mountain Bike and Gravel Cycling Route through the Forest Reserve

A moderately difficult mountain bike and gravel cycling route runs through the Biogenetic Forest Reserve of Pian degli Ontani. The route begins in the square near Albergo La Villa. There is a spring in the square near Albergo La Villa for refilling water, and further springs can be found along the route.

Local Flavour: Sagra del Neccio

The Sagra del Neccio is a local festival celebrating necci, a typical mountain dish, and usually takes place towards the end of August.

For the overarching travel overview: Cutigliano.