The Monte Prado

The Monte Prado (2054 m) is the highest mountain in Tuscany and is located in the Apennines, a 1500 km long mountain range in Italy. Located directly on the border with Emilia-Romagna, Monte Prado is surrounded by some higher mountains, such as Monte la Piella (2078m) and Monte Cusna (2121m), which, however, are on the other side of the border. Nevertheless, as the highest point in Tuscany, Monte Prado is a very popular destination.

Compared to the craggy limestone mountains of the Apuan Alps to the west, which can be admired in the distance on good days, hikers on Monte Prado can expect gentle, grassy and bushy hills made of primary rock and relaxed tours over a ridge with great views.

Tours on Monte Prado

The biggest challenge when climbing Monte Prado is probably the distance from the nearest starting point, which is 7 km horizontally and 1100 meters vertically away. The summit can be reached via a breathtaking hiking route along the main ridge of the Apennines. The route first requires climbing Monte Cella and Monte Vecchio. The starting point of the hike is located in a small ski resort, which is why there are also some ski tours on Monte Prado in winter.

The entrance is in the parking lot at Albergo Il Casone and follows the marker 54 to a pull-way (do not follow the ski slope). The ridge is reached in bends, from where the path leads through a beech forest to the Rifugio Cella (1650 m). From there the path continues over meadows and finally narrows to a path to a stone man. From there the path becomes clearer. A short time later you are on the Bocca di Massa pass (1816 m).

There you keep to the left to cross the flank of Monte Cella to Passo de Scaglione and then to Monte Vecchio (1982 m). This is followed by a small descent of around 50 meters into a notch and then the hike leads over the pre-summit (2008 m) to Monte Prado with a marker stone and stone man.

Arrival to Monte Prado

The best starting point, Casone di Profecchia, southwest of the Passo delle Radici, is easily accessible from Florence and Pisa, as well as from Bologna. From Florence and Pisa , take the A11 motorway to Lucca and then switch to the SS12 towards Abetone. At Borgo a Mozzano, take the SP2 towards Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and then the SS324 towards Passo delle Radici, continuing to Casone di Profecchia.

From Bologna take the motorway towards Modena. At the southern exit of Modena, take the SS12 south to Abetona. At Pievepelago, change to the SS324 via Passo delle Radici and continue from there to Casone di Profecchia.

More vacation options

Die Toskana ist immer eine Reise wert und es lohnt sich ein Ferienhaus in Italien zu mieten, um das Lebensgefühl und die Sehenswürdigkeit voll auszukosten. Wer im Urlaub gerne ein wenig Abwechslung hat, kann nach einer Wanderung auf dem Monte Prado in nur 2 Stunden Richtung Meer fahren. Marina di Massa ist ein kleiner Ort an der toskanischen Küste, der von den Bergen der Toskana gesäumt wird. Viele Urlauber kommen an diesen Badeort, um Berge und Meer miteinander zu verbinden.

Active vacationers who want to undertake further tours after climbing Monte Massa can visit the Apuan Alps. Here the hiking trails lead through pine forests and mountain meadows and offer panoramic views of emerald green mountain lakes.

Für ein wenig Kultur ist ein Abstecher in die Stadt Lucca empfehlenswert. Das historische Stadtzentrum mit den für toskanische Städte typischen kopfsteingepflasterten Gassen ist von einer gut erhaltenen Stadtmauer aus der Renaissance umgeben. Sie ist das bekannteste Wahrzeichen der Stadt, doch auch das Casa di Puccini, Geburtshaus des weltberühmten Komponisten und mittlerweile ein Museum, ist sehenswert. Die baumbestandenen breiten Wege auf den beeindruckenden Festungswällen des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts laden zum Spazierengehen ein.