Through the Apennines: La 'Grande Escursione Appenninica' (GEA), between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna

The 'Grande Escursione Appenninica' (GEA), a three-week trek of almost 400 km long, crossing the Apennines in 23 stages, from Bocca Trabaria to Passo Due Santi, on the edge of Liguria. The route goes in and out of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, never dropping below 400 metres.

Attractions include Monte Prado - Tuscany's highest peak - cosy villages and comfortable hotel-style accommodation, memorable meals and yet few hikers, plus the Casentino National Park and Franciscan sanctuaries, the World War II Gothic line, open ridges on the northern section, Alpine-style lakes in the Apennine National Park, magnificent beech forests and alpine flowers.

The guide provides step-by-step descriptions of the routes, accompanied by detailed mapping. There are transport options for getting in and out of the hike at various points, making it perfect for undertaking small section or single day hikes. There are suggestions for en-route accommodation in comfortable guesthouses and alpine-style huts, making it essential reading for anyone undertaking the GEA.

The Apennines are Italy's best-kept secret. Forming the rugged backbone of the Italian peninsula, this mountain range offers thousands of kilometres of marked trails over rocky ridges and crests and explores vast forests and meadows, following routes long established by traders, pilgrims and shepherds and little affected by mass tourism. Throughout the country there are historic shrines, national parks and nature reserves, wildlife and wildflowers, stunning roads and harbours, and memorials to the terrible events of World War II.

Practical guide

When to go?

Spring to autumn: late June to September is best suited to the availability of accommodation in the central section.

Best walked between spring and autumn, it is suitable for any fit walker.

Cities & Services

Abetone, Arezzo, Bibbiena, Bologna, Bologna, Parma, Pieve Pelago, Pistoia, Pontremoli, Porretta Terme, Prato, Reggio Emilia, Sansepolcro.

Not to be missed

• The Casentino National Park and the Franciscan Sanctuaries
• The Gothic line of the Second World War
• Open ridges in the northern section.
• Alpine-style lakes in the Apennine National Park.
• Monte Prado, the highest peak in Tuscany (2054m).
• The flora, magnificent beech forests and alpine flowers.

The stages

• Stage 1 Bocca Trabaria a Passo di Viamaggio
• Stage 2 Passo di Viamaggio a Caprese Michelangelo
• Stage 3 Caprese Michelangelo a La Verna
• Stage 4 La Verna a Badia Prataglia
• Stage 5 Badia Prataglia a Rifugio Città di Forlì
• Stage 6 Rifugio Città di Forlì at Passo del Muraglione
• Stage 7 Passo del Muraglione to Colla di Casaglia
• Stage 8 Colla di Casaglia a Badia Moscheta
• Stage 9 Badia Moscheta to Passo del Giogo
• Stage 10 Passo del Giogo to Passo della Futa
• Stage 11 Passo della Futa a Montepiano
• Stage 12 Montepiano a Rifugio Pacini
• Stage 13 Rifugio Pacini a Pracchia
• Stage 14 Pracchia a Lago Scaffaiolo
• Stage 15 Lake Scaffaiolo in Boscolungo
• Stage 16 Boscolungo to Lago Santo Modenese
• Stage 17 Lake Santo Modenese at Passo delle Radici
• Stage 18 Passo delle Radici a Passo di Pradarena
• Stage 19 Passo di Pradarena to Passo del Cerreto
• Stage 20 Passo del Cerreto to Prato Spilla
• Stage 21 Prato Spilla a Lago Santo Parmense
• Stage 22 Lake Santo Parmense at Passo della Cisa
• Stage 23 Passo della Cisa to Passo Due Santi