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| Route
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- THE BRIDGES AND CUSTOMS OF POPIGLIO |
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| Slope |
Negligible |
Equipment |
Camera, trekking boots |
| Length of return trip |
2 km |
Duration of route
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1 hr |
| Difficulty |
none |
Type of path |
mule track |
| Recommended period |
All year |
Starting point |
Lambure parking lot
(400 metres above sea-level) |
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At Lamure, cars can be left in the field
allocated for parking and our walk begins on the asphalt road that
runs along for a few hundred yards in the valley. Leaving the Lambure
estate, we reach Casa Corsetto, which was not long ago, a riding school.
A mule track descends rapidly to the right to the Castruccio Bridge,
known as Campanelle Bridge by the locals. This bridge dates back to
the 14th century and was then the only link between the territories
of Pistoia and Lucca; it is nowadays a great example of medieval architecture.
The bridge was commissioned by Castruccio Castracani, commander of
Lucca; later the Grand Duke of Tuscany had some buildings constructed
around the bridge used as border controls, which have recently been
restored.
The bridge is made an individual arch (humpback) and crosses the stream
Lima, which flows down from the slopes of the Libro Aperto ("Open
Book"). While the Lima used to be a rapid stream, nowadays numerous
hydroelectric stations control its flow. Thanks to this it has become
popular with expert canoeists and especially with fishermen for the
abundance of trout (Trutta fario)
As we continue along the mule track, we reach a small stone bridge
on the brook Torbecchia. It is very common to find cyclamen plants
(Cyclamen europaeum). A protected species, it is bulbous, evergreen
and poisonous, with thread-like stems (10-15 cm) and dark green heart-shaped
leaves. The sweet-smelling flowers have purplish red petals.
The mule track continues to the right for a few hundred metres parallel
to the Lima. After a slight curve, the path swerves left, climbs briefly
to then swerve right and goes down down to meet the bridge over the
Liesina. This bridge with double arches was built at the start of
the 1800s after the bridge previously there was completely destroyed.
Here we reach the end of our itinerary, while the track continues
towards Lucchio.
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| The bridges and
customs of Popiglio |
| The return trip
is about 2 km on a practicable mule track. The itinerary is
charming even if not very well known and can be done throughout
the whole year. From the parking lot, after a brief slope, soon
reaches the bridge of Castruccio and the smaller bridge over
the brook Torbecchia. Continuing on the mule track for a short
while along the stream Lima the walk leads to the bridge over
the stream Liesina. |
| Click on the map to open a bigger
image, if you prefer you can download the GPS file in
the
download page. |
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Directions:
- From route SS n. 66 Pistoia - La Lima take the main road
"mammianese-marlianese" SS n. 633 at "La
Colonna" towards Piteglio.
- After about 2,5 km, near a hairpin bend at "Il Curvone"
take the road towards "Lolle". After 300 metres
keep to the right and follow the road for about 3 km.
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