F.A.P Train Itinerary
The itinerary:
The path does not have significant slopes, being easy even for the less trained. Most of the itinerary develops on unpaved road but the stretch Gavinana – Maresca is mainly on provincial road. If you start from Limestre to reach Campo Tizzoro, or vice versa, the length of the route is 9km. The kilometers become 18 if you decide to follow it on the way back to return to the starting point. When needed, the route can be easily divided into stretches: Limestre-Gavinana, Gavinana-Maresca and Maresca-Campo Tizzoro. Along the route, the “Health Itinerary” was recently created: a set of gymnastic tools available to anyone who wants to do physical exercise in the fresh air.
Departures:
The itinerary can be taken from both Limestre and Campo Tizzoro. If you decide to take it from Limestre, the departure point is located in the unpaved square next to the SS66, near the junction with the SP18. Otherwise, the departure from Campo Tizzoro is in its industrial area, where you will find many parking lots to leave your car safely. To find the departure point, follow Via delle Pompe – the entrance is located near the concrete ogive – until you reach the dirt road marked by an iron bar.
From Limestre to Gavinana:
The start of the itinerary, bounded by a barrier that prevents the transit of cars, is located in the dirt road that runs along the SS66, near the junction with the SP18, and it is recognizable by the presence of a stone fountain. At the beginning of the itinerary a sign explains the history of FAP and illustrates the Health Itinerary.
After reaching the station, the path goes up along the valley of the Limestre torrent, passing near a farm and the “Cigliaro” residential complex. This part of the itinerary ends in the southern part of Gavinana, near the sports field. Walking a few meters on asphalt road through the public gardens, you reach the old FAP railway station.
From Gavinana to Maresca.
In this stretch, the railway has been almost completely replaced by the road. Therefore, in its initial part, the itinerary is entirely on asphalt. From Gavinana station, you start going towards Maresca and after a few kilometers you arrive at a large crossroad. Turning right and following the signs for the “Passo dell’Oppio”, after a few hundred meters on asphalt road, you are back on a less asphalted and chaotic path. Another sign indicates the beginning of the section crossed once by the train. Along this part of the itinerary there is the old Alpe Piana FAP station, although recent renovation has changed its original shape. Just before the end of the route, you can also see, through the leaves, a beautiful landscape of the village of Maresca. Another barrier marks the end of this part of the route: to continue you need to cross the provincial road – be very careful since the exit of the path is near a bend; you might take into consideration the fact of crossing a few meter away, where you would be more visible. Once the street is crossed, you reach Borgofreddo and, having covered a few meters among the houses of the village, you get to the Maresca FAP station.
From Maresca to Campo Tizzoro.
The track resumes from the Maresca station, skirting the public gardens and heading towards Tafoni. The initial part of the route overlooks the provincial road, slowly taking the distances from it. A short section is covered crossing the industrial center in Cassero and then going back into the path. After crossing the bridge located on the Maresca creek, you get to Campo Tizzoro in the resort called “Cima al
Miglio”, which is recognizable by the large reinforced concrete ogive that indicates the entrance to the underground SMI shelters, which can be visited at the SMI Museum and Refuges, located a few meters ahead.