from Pierosara to Serra San Quirico
The second stage of the TraversaMarche reaches its summit at the panoramic Monte Murano, which is also the highest elevation of the entire journey, with its 882 m, and offers an exceptional view in all directions.
The stage begins in Pierosara, a picturesque and charming village in the Frasassi area, and after crossing a green and flowery area, it finds its point of arrival in the characteristic village of Serra San Quirico.
Trained walkers will be able to combine this stage with the following one, which leads to Cupramontana, thus totaling approximately 27 km.
You start from Pierosara, going down the streets of the town,
and after about 250 m you take the road to the right of the church.
You gradually move away from the town,
in the direction of Cerqueto, walking for just under 2 km:
At the crossroads near the town, you turn right, aiming for the center of the town.
You reach it in about 90 m, and follow the right turn of the road that crosses it,
and 60 m further on, you turn hard left, taking an easy path:
You go up along the trail, on a modest slope; during spring the brooms form two wings of flowering and highly scented bushes:
After 620 m, you will find a crossroads and continue straight on,
while keeping right at a second crossroads, 340 m ahead,
then you continue straight at all the crossroads, for 1.4 km:
At times the panorama opens to the left, towards the north-west,
and coming out of the woods, you walk among green meadows
You come to a small road, which you take to the right:
You follow it on a gentle slope, with wide views, for about 1.2 km:
passing a farmhouse,
up to a telecommunications tower; you pass to its left, and continue for another 600 m,
during which you begin going downhill, with an even wider view of Vallesina:
Before the Agriturismo Monte Murano Country House (found closed in the various passages of 2017, 2019 and 2024), you turn right, taking path 143a,
towards Monte Murano, and follow it for 650 m,
during which you climb until you reach the forest,
you cross it,
and climb up to the cross:
If the day is clear, the view from the cross over Vallesina is spectacular, sometimes reaching all the way to the sea:
Traveling another 90 m towards the south-west, you reach the actual summit, from where the view extends all around:
Towards the south-west, the ridge of Monte Valmontagnana stands out, and Pierosara can be seen:
You retrace your steps to the Country House, then descend in a north-east direction (paying attention to the sections of wooden palisades that have deteriorated and fallen to the ground, which have dangerous nails hidden in the grass),
for 250 m, keeping the electricity poles as a reference:
You soon spot a trail, and at that point you follow it for another 110 m, diverging from the power line,
until you reach the woods, and path 143, more evident:
You follow it downhill, without deviating, for 700 m, then turn 90 degrees to the left:
About 240 m further on, at a crossroads, you go straight but immediately take slightly to the right (red-white signs),
avoiding following the tracks dug by the mountain bikers.
About 290 m further on, you reach a small road, which you cross to take the path heading north-east:
You follow it for 80 m, following its curve to the right while skirting a house,
and then turn 90 degrees to the left, again along a path, for 400 m,
following the zigzag pattern
Thus you reach the outskirts of Serra San Quirico, where you leave the path to turn left onto a small road:
You go down the streets of the town, towards the historic centre,
along Via Martiri della Resistenza, passing next to the Abbey of Santa Maria del Mercato:
You turn left and take Via Leopardi, which goes up towards the centre, skirting the walls of the historic centre,
and 150 m further you reach Piazza della Libertà, right in the middle of the town:
■ gb, 2019-06-13