7th Itinerary

Roccatederighi - Montemassi

Development: 8,3 Km

Time: 3 hours

Interests

Naturalistic (Chestnut wood-evergreen Mediterranean Oak

wood)

Landscape (Road on the way to the Asina's dyke-

Poggio Colombo)

Practicability

This route is not very difficult. It runs on cartways through field or woods, we suggest covering it when it is cool. Remember to bring water with you as it is not possible to get water along the trails.

The first part of this itinerary goes through chestnut trees woods and crops going round the Rhyolitic spur on which Roccatederighi was built. In this part of the paths there is a botanical curiosity: the prickly broom (Ulex europaeus), which is not to be found anywhere else in our Municipality. Crops and olive trees becomes now predominant: they divide the land into small proprieties, giving the territory its characteristic aspect. We carry on towards the valley: behind us Roccatederighi’s church and the bell tower are easily spotted among the Rhyolitic rock spurs.

We then get to the dyke of the torrent Asina and we take the gravel road leading to Montemassi. There are no more crops but woods of turkey oak, arbutus, heather and cystisus. Further up we can enjoy a wonderful view from two panoramic spots: the upper part of the road we are on from which we can see the village of Roccatederighi with the side of the mound sketched with edges, rows of olive trees surrounded by woods. The other spot is Poggio Colombo from which we can get a 360° view.