from Serra San Quirico to Cupramontana
With its third stage, the TraversaMarche tour enters the Vallesina, and the predominant mountain landscape changes, from mountain to hilly.
You start from Serra San Quirico, walk for a stretch in the valley, on narrow streets, then you go up the hill, on the hydrographic right of the valley of the Esinante stream, go back down into the valley and finally climb up the opposite side, up to Cupramontana, the point of arrival.
You descend from the historic center of Serra San Quirico, possibly passing through the Copertelle:
Shortly after the arch that marks their exit, you turn sharply to the right, then cross another arch,
and after a few tens of meters turn sharply to the left, taking Via Fratelli Rosselli downhill, to continue straight ahead at the next intersection, taking a small road with no exit:
You continue downhill, partly along the SP 14, partly via shortcuts closed to traffic, such as Via Filzi:
A last small road that deviates to the right from the provincial road
leads to the Railway Station:
You head north-east along Via Clementina,
and shortly after you cross the railway crossing on the right:
So you walk along Via Fratelli Bandiera, passing the last houses and a couple of sheds, going straight at a fork,
going beyond the State Road 76 thanks to a providential underpass:
Then you turn left and you find yourself walking in the open countryside:
After about 400 m you come across Strada Contrada Serralta, where you turn left:
You continue for just over one and half km along a canal,
until you reach the village of Bruscara:
At the end of the straight, you turn right into Via Cesare Pavese:
If you want to visit the Abbey of Sant'Elena, you turn left right away, and in about 800 m you reach it. Otherwise, you follow the road.
On the left you can see Rosora:
Proceed along the road, which continues into the countryside with a few turns:
A small road bordered by a row of cypress trees branches off to the right;
you take it and follow it, passing the cemetery:
Looking back, beyond the surrounding countryside, the shape of Monte Murano can still be seen in the distance:
When the small road re-joins the main road, you continue to the right, quickly reaching the town of Sasso:
You go past the square,
following the main road with a short "S", then continue on the left about 200 m after:
You continue without turning off the road, and before reaching the village of Castellaro, you take a small road on the left, for Località Fontegeloni:
You proceed downhill, now on dirt:
At a farmhouse, the road bends to the left:
You go on,
passing a couple of houses:
You reach and cross the bridge over the Esinante river,
go around the Famar plant and cross and cross the Privince Road 9, taking Via Eremo della Romita:
Shortly after, at a crossroads, you have the opportunity to turn left, to head towards the Eremo dei Frati Bianchi:
Otherwise, continue along the road, which leads to Cupramontana, with a varied slope, sometimes rather steep:
You reach the outskirts of the village,
reach and follow Viale Marche for a good stretch,
to then penetrate towards the core of the historic center, until you reach the Palazzo del Comune:
By crossing its portal
you have access to the central Piazza IV Novembre:
Here is the B&B Il Baco.
■ gb, 2019-06-13