Hiking in the Pistoian Apennines: Abetone

Not everyone can imagine that Tuscany is also home to high mountain ranges that boast well-known ski slopes. Are you surprised?

Our excursion will start in the Valley of Light (Val di Luce – 1512 m) ski district of the Pistoian Apennines. Here we’ll take the same route as the ski lift to reach the Hannibal’s Pass (Passo di Annibale – 1798 m) where we’ll then follow a route which, as the legend goes, was first made by the Carthaginian commander when he crossed the Apennines in the year 217 A.D to reach the south peninsula. We’ll continue our hike crossing vast fields of bilberries and reach the peak of one of the highest mountains in Tuscany: The Three Powers (Alpe Tre Potenze – 1940 m). What a spectacular view of the crowning high mountains we’ll enjoy from this point which once marked the confines of the three antique territorial powers: The Grand Duchy of Tuscany, The Duchy of Lucca and the Duchy of Modena. Accompanied by these beautiful views we’ll continue the hike along the mountain ridges until we reach the refuge of La Selletta before descending down again towards the famous ski resort of Abetone (1388 m).

Difficulty level: Difficult – 10 km – 475 m ↑ – 600 m ↓ – 4½ h
Fee: €315 per group for up to 20 people