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Equi and the Hermitage of Saint George, Walks around Carrara, Massa Carrara

At the gates of Equi we find signposts that lead us along a climbing path to the start of the route, in Prada, opposite a house. Here we climb up into the chestnut forest and proceed along a paved mule-track. On our right we can hear the noise of the turbulent waters of the Lucido torrent and we soon reach an area of fir-trees; we have reached the cemetery just outside the village of Aiola which we are approaching on our left. We cross the old village, cross a bridge and pass a washing trough, and then proceed along via Baracca.

When we reach the church we go up a flight of steps near the building and we find the mule-track again on our right, just outside the village. We continue, along a series of bends that climb the mountainside. It is very steep but the path is good so we keep a good pace. After about a quarter of an hour we reach a turn-off for the ruins of Castellaccio where we go straight on, without turning off, still climbing fairly steeply.

Above us we see a group of rocks and we pass in the middle of them, walking briefly along the slope that has just appeared. We leave the slope returning to the previous path and go on to tackle another two small rocky promontories that await us. When we arrive here, we walk along the mountain side, through the beech trees that have replaced the chestnut trees, looking over the Vinca valley, cutting across the hillside that is not quite so steep. Twenty minutes later we arrive at a lovely plateau where there is an old stone house with benches where we can sit down and enjoy the magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. Just beyond the house there is a water fountain.

At the beginning of this area we see signs pointing towards Saint George's Hermitage and we walk towards it. This is a 400-metre section that first of all descends before arriving at a series of rocks we must climb up before coming out onto a much easier mule-track that leads to the clearing in front of the hermitage. Ruins are all that is left of the building, but in the past it was famous and was an important monastery.

It was founded in 1604 which is relatively recent for these ancient places. The view we have from this fascinating place fully rewards our fatigue in reaching it. After our stop we go back to the last turn-off, at the stone house. From here we can reach the village of Vinca, passing the Maestà with the same name, or we can return to Equi along the route we took on the way up.

Time: two and a half hours

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