Sentiero dei Ducati (Dukedoms Trail)

Itinerary description

The Sentiero dei Ducati (Dukedoms Trail) is a 201-kms long trail, starting from Reggio Emilia and arriving in Sarzana, Liguria, beyond the Apennines and through the ancient Mathilda of Tuscany Earldoms, the Parma-Piacenza and Modena-Reggio Dukedoms, the Knights' Valley (Valle dei Cavalieri) in the highest part of Enza Valley, trespassing the Apennines Range through the Lagastrello Pass and into the Malaspina Counties, arriving then into the ancient territories of Genoa Republic.
The trail retraces the ancient Estense border among the Dukedoms that from 1500s to 1848 ruled this part of Italy. This trail goes into the true heart of the Emilian Apennines, where mass tourism has not invaded the quaint villages and the rolling hills that you can find only here. Live an authentic journey among beautiful places, villages overflowing with history and nature, mighty castles and impressive peaks into the highest mountains of the heart of Emilia, arriving in Luni, major Roman port on the Thyrrenian Sea.

contacts and practical information

Club Alpino Italiano - Reggio Emilia Section
Via Caduti delle Reggiane 1H (Campovolo Area)
Phone: +39 0522 436685
cairesentierodeiducati@gmail.com 
https://sentierodeiducati.it/

CAI Fivizzano
Legal Office: Via Stretta, 5 - 54013 Fivizzano (MS)
Public Office: c/o C.O.C. Protezione Civile Via Variante Nord, 50 - 54013 Fivizzano (MS)
Phone: +39 347 960 8332
info@caifivizzano.it
https://www.caifivizzano.it/

CAI Sarzana
Piazza Firmafede 13 – 19038 Sarzana (SP)
Phone: 0187 625154
caisarzana@libero.it
https://caisarzana.com

The trail

The Sentiero dei Ducati is a trail that runs for the 80% of its length on pathways, dirt roads, forest roads or mule tracks, surrounded by a mountainous environment nearly entirely wild. The best moments to trek are mid to late spring (April to June) and early to mid autumn (mid-August to mid-October), with long, sunny days and pleasant temperatures. During rainy periods it is not unusual to encounter mud, raging streams and uncrossable fords, due to heavy rains or melting snows.
During the trail, one can experience every micro-climate and every environmental zone of the Emilian Territory: the bustling plains, the viridiscent rolling hills, high peaks of the Apennines, Lunigiana's deep valleys and the endless blue of the Ligurian Sea.
Being a trekking trail, it is advisable to start with a proper fitness level and with adequate gear.
The Sentiero dei Ducati has two main itineraries: the trekking one and the MTB/Gravel Bike one. GPX files can be found at this website.

stages

The Sentiero dei Ducati starts in Reggio Emilia, and after 12 stages, arrives in Sarzana, Liguria.

The stages are:
1 - Da Reggio Emilia a Quattro Castella, via Puianello and Roncolo, 24,4 km (it is possible to detour with more flat trails via Rubbianino, 22,3 km)
2 - From Quattro Castella to Canossa, 12,7 km
3 - From Canossa to Borzano, 16,6 km
4 - From Borzano to Vetto, 15,8 km
5 - From Vetto to Castagneto, 19,1 km (it is possible to detour onto Via dei Pizzoni and Arenarie di Ranzano, 20,8 km)
6 - From Castagneto to Succiso, 11,3 km
7 - From Succiso to Rigoso (Parma), 14,1 km (crossing with Alta Via dei Parchi, Via di Linari and Sentiero Italia)
8 - From Rigoso to Sassalbo (Massa-Carrara), 18,4 km (Border Emilia-Romagna / Tuscany)
9 - From Sassalbo to Casola in Lunigiana, 23,1 km (trail shared with Trekking Lunigiana)
10 - From Casola in Lunigiana to Ponte di Monzone, 13,8 km
11 - From Ponte di Monzone to Fosdinovo, 20,3 km
12 - From Fosdinovo to Sarzana (La Spezia), 11,8 km