GTA: Stage 55 Borgata Serre di Elva

Highlights and tour details

From the small square of the Parish Church of Serre d'Elva, take the road in a southerly direction until you cross the Rio Molinas, go uphill skimming the hamlets of Mattalia and Isaia and, after crossing the Rio Paulasso, continue along the old mule track that now passes through the larch grove. After a couple of hairpin bends you pass by the Arsissa fountain (1778 m) and continue climbing diagonally up to Colle San Giovanni (1872 m) where there is a characteristic circular chapel. From here, a stretch along the hillside, first on rock and then on terrain (you cross a marshy stretch near a water trough) leads to Colle Bettone (1831 m). From the Pass, turn right following the asphalt road, leaving it further down the Pass, where from the provincial road, a path on the left descends into the valley. At the first hairpin bend (sign) we leave the track that curves to the right leading to the hamlet of S. Martino, to continue straight on the path that brushes the asphalt road a couple of times and quickly reaches the hamlet of Contà (1427 m), where there is the asphalt road that goes up to Elva. Then after crossing the hamlet of Ciamin (1333 m) below, which has a beautiful chapel dedicated to St. Michael, a lovely paved path leads us with steep hairpin bends down below the rock face of the Rocca del Papa and then in Cumbal Tinas. You then cross the brook on an old stone bridge near an old mill (1058 m) and going slightly uphill you reach Paschero di Stroppo. From the last houses of the hamlet a mule track leads down with hairpin bends along the rocky ridge to finally arrive at Bassura di Stroppo.