Mountain Trekking

Mountain Trekking - No. 1

Although just 12 kms from Cortona, the mountains are a world away â€“ rugged, wild and extremely beautiful

The mountain ranges above Cortona â€“ Monte Santâ€™Egidio, Monte Castel Giudeo, Monte Ginezzo â€“ at little more than 1000 metres above sea level â€“ are a 15 minute drive up from Cortona. Although just 12 kms from the town, the mountains are a world away â€“ rugged, wild and extremely beautiful.

View on the way up to Monte Ginezzo

From spring through to summer the abundant array of wild flowers, the combination of colours and the quantity of insects and butterflies with vibrant colours matching those of the plants around them, can fascinate and distract one for hours while walking along the innumerable mountain trails.

The finding of porcini or chantarelle mushrooms in the late spring and autumn is a great motivation for traipsing up and down the steep wooded mountainsides.

If you are an adventurous walker, you can even go off piste, but might find yourself face to face with wild boar (often with their young), startled deer, hares and even the odd, unwary fox. A sturdy walking stick is not a bad idea (more as a weapon of self-defence than as a walking aid), although most wild animals are very timid and extremely wary of anything on two legs!

There are endless choices for walks up in the mountains: red and white painted signs (often on the trunks of trees or a chunk of rock) identify public footpaths.

There are old Roman roads that extend for miles through pine, chestnut and oak woods. Monte Castel Giudeo offers a walk with a view, as does the walk up from the Cerventosa to Monte Ginezzo. Generally speaking however, in Italy, you are allowed to walk where you wish.

Monte Castel Giudeo

View from Monte Castel Giudeo

At Portole, along the strada provinciale Umbro-Cortonese (about 15 minutes from Cortona direction CittÃ di Castello) there are some maps posted identifying a variety of trails one can follow, but perhaps more importantly there is a bar to return to at tripâ€™s end where one can also enjoy an amazing panoramic view (and a well-earned cold drink and panino) looking out over Lake Trasimeno.

Portole bar

Walking routes from Portole

View from Portole bar

One can organise day-trips with a picnic (from the top of Mount Ginezzo one can walk cross country to Pierle), or shorter hikes (from the Cerventosa to the top of Mount Ginezzo which takes a good 50 minutes) or drive up to the parking area at the top and take a healthy (quite steep) walk up to the mountainâ€™s peak from where there is a breath taking 270Â° degree view of what I can best describe as a view of â€˜planet earthâ€™.

Monte Ginezzo

View from the top of Monte Ginezzo

Other scenic, but quite wild trails are along the fire breaks; paths cut through the woodland and cleared of vegetation to literally break the advance of a forest fire. Here one can see visible signs of the local fauna - footprints of the innumerable boar, deer, porcupines, foxes and, so it is said, the spoor of wolves.

View from the Cerventosa's fire break

None of these animals tend to be out during the day and most of them flee at the mere whiff of a human, but making a bit of a noise as you walk, is probably a good precaution to take.

Team, 10/07/2020 17:57:24

Mountain Trekking - No. 1

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