Monte Maggiorasca
1,798 m
Italy
Also known as МаджораскаAlso known as
Маджораска
- Elevation
- 1,798 m
- Prominence
- 939 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Oct
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: E (Italian hiking scale) (appenninista.it; ScopriPiacenza)
The shortest way up: from the road pass of Passo del Tomarlo (about 1,480 m) a steep start through beech wood on the yellow-marked watershed path, then gentler ground to a junction at 1,677 m, a short scenic gully between rock ledges to the Madonna di Guadalupe on the south-west top (1,792 m) and a meadow to the main summit with its relay masts. About 340 m and 1¼–1½ hours up.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 2.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +329 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,800 m
- Time Up
- 1h 24m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 58m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park on the roadside at Passo del Tomarlo (about 1,476–1,482 m), the high pass on the provincial road between Santo Stefano d'Aveto and the Ceno and Nure valleys, by the sign marking the Santo Stefano municipal boundary. Follow the two solid yellow circles north-west along the Aveto–Ceno watershed: steep at first through meadow and beech wood with juniper (most of the height is gained in the first half hour), then along a gentle beech-covered shoulder, past a rock tooth, across a clearing and steeply up to a ridge. A short descent leads to a notch (1,655 m) where the yellow-X path from Allegrezze joins; Monte Croce Martincano (1,724 m) is an optional detour to the left. Follow the yellow X almost level past the turn for Rocca del Prete (CAI 194a), contour east of Monte Picchetto and round the Moglia dell'Anguilla, then descend gently to a junction at 1,677 m. Turn right and climb through beeches on wooden steps, skirt the rock face of the fore-summit and climb a short, scenic gully between rock ledges to the grassy saddle between the two tops. The south-west top (1,792 m) carries the statue of the Madonna di Guadalupe, a small altar and a bench; the main summit (about 1,800 m) with several relay masts is a short walk across the meadow. The climb is tiring in places but never exposed. Descend the same way (about 1 hour), or make a 2½-hour loop over Monte Bue and Monte Nero, returning to the road and walking it back to the pass.
Start
Passo del Tomarlo1,472 m
- No public transport to Passo del Tomarlo was found
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Passo del Tomarlo → Monte Maggiorasca | 2.4 | 329 | 0 | 1h 24m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Passo del Tomarlo1,472 m
- Feature: Statua della Madonna di Guadalupe1,782 m
- Summit: Monte Maggiorasca1,798 m
Key Passages
- Steep start through beech wood
- Short scenic gully between rock ledges below the fore-summit
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The highest summit of the Ligurian Apennines (about 1,800 m), a grassy double top above Santo Stefano d'Aveto on the Liguria–Emilia border, with a 1947 statue of the Madonna di Guadalupe on its south-west top and relay masts on the main one. A short walk from Passo del Tomarlo or Prato della Cipolla, with views from the Alps to the Apuan Alps and the sea.
Monte Maggiorasca rises at the head of the Val d'Aveto in the province of Genoa, a few hundred metres from the boundaries of the provinces of Piacenza and Parma, in the Parco Naturale Regionale dell'Aveto. With Monte Bue, Monte Nero and Groppo Rosso it forms a compact group of rocky tops, beech forest and high meadows, with small glacial lakes such as Lago Nero below.
The mountain has two tops: the south-west top (1,792 m), facing Santo Stefano, with the statue of the Madonna di Guadalupe, a small altar and a bench, and the slightly higher main summit across a meadow, which carries TV and phone relay masts. The view covers most of the northern Apennines, the Apuan Alps, Monte Gottero and, on clear days, the arc of the Alps.
The Santo Stefano side is developed for skiing, with chairlifts from Rocca d'Aveto to Prato della Cipolla and Monte Bue, but the walking routes are short, well marked and easy, making Maggiorasca a popular half-day outing in all seasons.
Climbing Notes
An easy hike for anyone used to mountain paths: about 340 m and 1¼–1½ hours from Passo del Tomarlo, or about 520 m and 1½–2 hours from Rocca d'Aveto, both graded E. There is no water on the routes. The open tops are exposed to wind, and fog is frequent; navigation can then be tricky on the broad meadows.
In winter the group is snowy (the ski area operates on Monte Bue), and the summit is a popular snowshoe objective; keep off the pistes when the lifts are running. Spring and autumn give the clearest views. Combine with Monte Bue, Monte Nero and Lago Nero for a longer day.
History
The statue of the Madonna di Guadalupe, by a Ligurian artist, was placed on the south-west top by the people of Santo Stefano d'Aveto in 1947 in thanks after the Second World War; a pilgrimage climbs to it every 27 August.
Season
Best May–Oct- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snowshoe objective; ski area open on Monte Bue
- Feb
- Snow; keep off the pistes
- Mar
- Snow on the tops
- Apr
- Snow patches in the beech woods
- May
- Spring flowers on the meadows
- Jul
- Afternoon thunderstorms possible
- Aug
- Busy; pilgrimage to the Madonna on 27 August
- Oct
- Beech woods in autumn colour
- Nov
- Fog and early snow possible
- Dec
- Snow
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Chairlift tickets if using the Rocca d'Aveto lifts
- Rules
- The mountain lies in the Parco Naturale Regionale dell'Aveto; follow park rules
- Getting There
Santo Stefano d'Aveto
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (GOA)
- Car from Liguria: A12 exit Lavagna, over Passo della Forcella to Rezzoaglio, then to Santo Stefano d'Aveto and Rocca d'Aveto or up to Passo del Tomarlo
- Car from Genoa: towards Piacenza to Eo di Bargagli, Val Fontanabuona and Passo della Scoglina to Rezzoaglio
- Car from Emilia: from Piacenza up the Val Nure via Ferriere and Passo dello Zovallo, or from the A15 (Borgotaro) via Bedonia and Passo di Montevacà
- Bus stop at Rocca d'Aveto; services not verified
Hazards
- Weather