Today we propose an excursion through one of the most evocative fossil valleys of the Finalese area, near the imposing Rocca Corno.
valleys, near the imposing Rocca di Corno. Let us rediscover together
rediscover together an ancient road that probably connected in ancient times to the one we
previously mentioned, the Via Augusta. Many testimonies of the
Roman period (bridges, caves and quarries) will be part of this walk. The path
starts from Verzi, a little above Calvisio, where we leave the car near a clearing
which is not really a car park, but the car belongs to Vale, so ok ;)
We start to travel along the ancient Iulia Augusta. We go up the valley following the only
route available. Just along the way we can encounter 5 Roman bridges,
dating back to the I/II century A.D., we will see 3 of them! The first one appears in front of us
The first one appears in front of us almost immediately and it is the Ponte delle Fate, well preserved, almost intact.
We cross the bridge and keep to the right until we arrive at the agriturismo
Valleponci where we can catch a glimpse of hens and horses.
Past this point we ford a small dry torrent and then climb back up
along the dirt road that runs alongside vegetable gardens and vineyards. We walk along the fence
fence that extends for a few hundred metres and we meet the second well-preserved
well-preserved Roman bridge (actually it is the third if we also count those of which only ruins remain).
only ruins remain). The Ponte delle Voze or commonly called the "Muto
Muto" (4) is the crossroads where there is a junction: on the left you continue along the Via Julia
Augusta leading towards the remaining two bridges (dell'Acqua and Magnone), on the
on the right, instead, a path leads to the shelter of Pian Del Ciliegio (3) and to the Arma
delle Manie, our point of interest.
We stop for a break, as Carolina has been very good at walking here,
spurred on by the stories about the Romans that we prepared at home.
stories about the Romans that we had prepared at home, which to tell the truth were very much revisited on the spot to entertain her.
Fixed the child in the backpack we begin to climb the path that is muddy and gravel at times.
muddy and gravelly in places.
We recommend you to be careful because this path is often covered by
bikers who take it at great speed on the descent.
Through the wood, uphill and after a few hairpin bends, we come to an open space
which is also the car park of the La Grotta inn (1) in Manie. Under the
Under the terrace of the restaurant there is indeed a cave, dating back to the Neolithic period, which
Carolina naturally wants to visit it in detail. Follow her
inside the cave there are in fact many remains belonging to the ancient peasant
to the ancient peasant civilisation in the Finale area.
We start walking again, keeping to the left, always on the asphalt road.
past the small church of San Giacomo we arrive at a second restaurant,
the Osteria del Bosco, known above all for its typical dishes. We also pass
past this refreshment point to head, now on a dirt road, towards the top of the Manie.
Carolina's destination is clear: the Ferrin restaurant (2)! We have lunch here before
We have lunch here before getting back on the road and going back to the car along the same route.