Monte Gorzano

From Cesacastina (1,140 m, Crognaleto) follow Sentiero Italia 300 west on a road and mule track to the Piane, where a barrier and a national park board mark the end of the drivable track (about 1,340 m; parking here saves about 40 minutes). Cross the Fosso dell'Acero to a small Enel hut (1,365 m, about 50 minutes from the village). At a fork at about 1,500 m leave SI 300 and continue on trail 354 beside the stream through the Valle delle Cento Cascate, a long series of falls over sandstone slabs in beech forest. In summer parts of the dry streambed can be walked, but wet rock is extremely slippery; at high water keep well away from the banks, as fatal accidents have occurred. Above the trees a dirt road leads to a sheepfold with a tin hut and the Sorgente Mercurio area (about 1,730–1,760 m, 2¼ hours), at the centre of the Cento Fonti amphitheatre. Cross the concrete bridge and follow a sheep track diagonally east to Arsecco (1,845 m) on the Costa delle Troie. Climb this broad south-east ridge without a real path, traverse right at about 2,200 m to La Cimata (about 2,220 m) and follow the east ridge to the summit (2,458 m, large cairn and metal cross), about 4 hours from the village. Descend the same way, or follow the south ridge (white-red poles) to the Sella di Gorzano (about 2,310 m, often with a small pond) and go down through the pathless Cento Fonti on trail 354, marked by poles and cairns, back to the Sorgente Mercurio (about 3½ hours to the village). The upper mountain is open, grassy and very confusing in fog.