Abetone: the appeal of Tuscany
The destination of most famous and coveted mountain in central Italy, offering 50 km of slopes in winter and in summer many hiking trails that allow long walks to discover the nature: we are talking of’ Abetone, a municipality in the province of Pistoia.
The ski area is divided into three main areas: the first area is made from the slopes of Abetone historical and consists of two blue tracks suitable for beginners and Harness Chierroni, two easy trails that run through the woods, and Riva, a red one fits all of up to 1200 meters, plus a few variants that connect the different tracks.
A second area consists of the tracks on the Emilian which includes the three most popular tracks Abetone, the three Zeno, the two simple tracks Pulicchio and Stucchi. The third area includes the slopes of Val di Luce, with four principal routes (Pass of Hannibal, Alpe of the three powers, Mount Elbow, Sprella) easy or medium difficulty. You can also practice cross-country skiing on two tracks and ring for a total of 15 km.
In addition to sports, then you can see some attractions, such as the Suspension Bridge, which is located in the Lima Mammiano Low: 220 meters long with a maximum height of 40 meters, is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world; the pyramids of stone, erected to mark the opening of the crossing dell’Abetone to mark the boundary between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Duchy of Modena, the ‘Botanical Gardens, which covers an area of about 14,000 sq km between 1250 and 1300 meters in the upper valley of the Sestaione, where they grow many plants typical of scientific interest of the woods of the Apennines and imported species.
Here then passes the Via Francigena, which was once the road to the pilgrimage which connected Rome to Santiago de Compostela. It ‘a path through many cities of Tuscany and Emilia, including “Francesca Via della Sambuca” which passes near Abetone, with a distance of 2.5 km that can be covered in an hour’s walk .
For a stay of all comfort Abetone is a first class hotel complex, the ‘Hotel Residence Boscolungo (450 Brenner Street, Tel: 0573/60582; www.boscolungo.it), elegant and full furnishings, with excellent opportunities for recreation and relaxation with indoor pool including one for children, piano bar, restaurant, gym, spa, game room and billiards room, entertainment and mini club.
Ideal for all skiers who are the departures of the main ski lifts within walking distance from the hotel ‘s Hotel Sport (542 Brenner Street, Tel: 0573/60034; www.albergosport.com) is positioned in the center of the country and is characterized for the typical mountain environment much attention to detail.
Stop culinary From Pierone (Brennerstraße 556, tel: 0573/360068), which offers not only a stunning setting but also excellent cuisine, where dishes of meat are presented with succulent steaks and homemade desserts are a real delicacy. Alternative is also The Fox and the Grapes, hotel restaurant Miramonti (528 Brenner Street, Tel: 0573/60017; www.hotelmiramontiabetone.com), headed by Chef Luigi Ugolini, national president of the Professional Association of Italian Chefs. The dishes are dedicated to the territory, with the use of products selected from short chain, thanks to which taste and presentation offer a sober harmony.
