Sentiero di Maria Luigia

Departure: Bosco di Corniglio - Arrival: Monte Marmagna
CAI Difficulty Scale: E
Distance: 9.1 km - Outward journey: 4 hours 10 minutes - Return journey: 3 hours 20 minutes
Elevation gain: 945 m - Descend: 15 m
Starting altitude: 852 m - Arrival altitude: 1,799 m
Minimum altitude: 852 m - Maximum altitude: 1,827 m

An ancient route characterized by mule tracks that led to the high pastures of the Apennines, it was traveled in 1821 by Duchess Maria Luigia of Austria (hence its name) while visiting the mountains of her duchy. Mostly wooded, above the treeline it winds through the summit meadow, where traces of ancient glaciation dating back 20,000 years are evident.

The trail (no. 723) begins in Bosco di Corniglio, in the square in front of the old Ghirardini hotel (848 m).
The asphalt road, which winds uphill towards the south, ends at the entrance to the sports field, where the ancient path, still partially paved, continues.
Once back on the asphalt road, cross the crossroads and follow Via Tragiara (895m) southwards. This road, still climbing slightly but steadily, leaves the asphalt and follows a mule track to the embankment of the Bosco power plant's reservoir, which you follow on the right.
Once you reach the opposite end, you climb among the scattered houses of Tragiara (1003m – 1:00h) and, shortly after, you follow the road uphill. After a second hairpin bend, you finally leave it, following a mule track on the right that branches off slightly downhill but which immediately reveals its nature as an ancient paved path bordered by dry stone walls.
After a short while, the mule track steepens until it reaches the Monte Tavola consortium road (1150m) in the Costa Banciola area. You quickly leave this road and rejoin the old mule track on the left.
After a long, flat traverse, the mule track gradually climbs gently until it reaches a fence. Pass through it by unhooking the rudimentary gate (which must be closed). After that, the trail flattens out, reaching the Roncobuono meadow (1,262 m – 2:15 hrs, fountain).
Continue south until you soon reach the intersection with trail 725, which you leave on the right. After a slight descent, you reach the gate that physically marks the boundary of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park. Once the gate is closed (animals are grazing), you reach Prato della Valle (1,250 m). Leaving trail 725 to the left, which leads to Lagdei, you follow the well-maintained mule track on the right, which, flanked for long stretches by dry stone walls, steadily ascends across the slopes of Monte Fosco. After passing the intersection with trail 725A (1375m), continue on a slight climb and flat sections until you reach Ponte Rotto (1400m – 2:50h), a location characterized by the crumbling remains of the abutments that supported the bridge's planks. After leaving the intersection with trail 727, ford the Rio Braiola and, after a short climb, reach a second intersection, which you pass by keeping to the right. Once you reach the wooded section of the ski slope, cross it on a slight climb, passing under the Lagdei – Lago Santo chairlift. Once back in the woods, ascending, you reach the intersection with trail 723B (1520m), located on the summit of the northern moraine of Lago Santo, which can be glimpsed shimmering above the beech trees. Turning sharply right, a short descent leads to the shore of Lago Santo, home to the CAI Refuge (1,508 m – 3:30 h), dedicated to Giovanni Mariotti (founder and president of the Parma chapter).
Trail 723 continues beyond the refuge courtyard, flanking the lake to the remains of the ancient fishpond (a fountain is located shortly before). From here, the climb begins, initially with a traverse that then leads to a series of inclined planes of roche moutonnées, revealing the presence of the ancient glacier. At Pineta del Lago Santo (1,577 m), continue south, quickly reaching the second crossroads near the ruins of Capanne del Lago Santo (1,580 m). Leaving trail 729 on the left, continue uphill to the edge of the forest, beyond which the grassy summit basin opens up.
The trail climbs steeply and quickly reaches the main ridge at the scenic Sella del Marmagna (1731 m – 4:00 h), where it intersects with trail 00.
Ascending, you leave the saddle to the west along the trail that, diagonally across the northern slopes of Monte Marmagna, reaches its summit (1852 m – 4:30 h).

Trails and Cartography CAI Parma Parma group www.caiparma.it