Pietrabruna - Follia Mountain

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Duration: 5 hours

Difficulty: E

Elevation gain: 700 meters

A circular tour along the the ancients trails of the Ligurians, starting from Pietrabruna’s main square, follow the ancient road towards Valle Argentina and Saint Saviour mule track, after passing by the last houses of the village and Saint Rocco’s oratory, go through plantations and rural areas, olive groves and oak woods.

Climb up a mule track and then onto a dirt road which winds its way into the Mediterranean scrub, through rosemary bushes, cystus, weaver’s brooms and after a short section of tarmacked road one arrives at Saint Saviour’s pass, where there is a little church dedicated to the same saint dating back to the end of XVth century, an important crossroad leading in one direction to Boscomare and in the other to Argentina Valley.

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Carry on to the left, crossing a wood of beautiful Holm oaks after which one arrives at Casone Drago Agnesi (large house) where one can find a shepherd tending his goats. From here climb up a steep path which continues for around 1 hour along a ridge amidst monumental Holm trees surrounded by lush Mediterranean scrub, while the landscape opens up allowing you to admire both mountains and sea.

Gaining elevation, move onto a meadow-like vegetation which will continue up to the summit of Mount Follia (1030m), where once stood a Ligurian village ( 5th century BC). Descending to the left and walking in the vicinity of the castellaro along a narrow path which is not easy to see, one reaches a wider mule track which leads to a turning point towards Mount Faudo (1146 m, the highest peak in the valley), always keeping to the left,  go through former lavender plantations and Holm oak woods and after around 1 hour one reaches the tarmacked road that leads back to the village starting point.