Ring trail from Marina di Massa

Route description

From Marina di Massa, follow the coast road toward Marina di Carrara; after the port, turn onto Viale XX Settembre and continue on to Carrara. Past the historic center, take state road SS 446, following the signs for Fosdinovo. The next uphill stretch takes you through the towns of Gragnana and Castelpoggio, offering a magnificent panorama on the entire Luni plain, Marinella, and Montemarcello.

Keep climbing to the Fosdinovo / Campocecina fork, the start of a very challenging variant up to the right to the Gabellaccia pass and then to Piazzale dell’Uccelliera, where intoxicating views amply reward the effort. Turn left, following the signs for the “Rifugio CAI Carrara” for a short ride to Piazzale delle Statue, the highest point on the route.

The same road takes you back to the intersection with SS 446; continue on to Fosdinovo. Past the town, head downhill for Sarzana and the sea, through Caniparola; then take provincial road SP 1 for about 1 km toward Massa as far as the intersection for Marinella and Fiumaretta. Turn right onto SP 21 as far as Marinella di Sarzana. Turn left and follow the coast road back to Marina di Massa.

Places of interest

Carrara: Academy of Fine Arts, Cathedral, Piazza Alberica, Museo di San Francesco, Marble Museum.

Campocecina: 19 km from Carrara, with a heady view of the marble fields and the sea.

Morlungo: the Cava dei Poeti and the Parco della Memoria, recalling the Holocaust.

Fosdinovo: Be sure to visit the town, the Malaspina castle (which hosted Dante), and the Museum of the Resistance.