Third Part of the GTE

Departure: Procchio
Arrival: Pomonte / Patresi
Length of route: 15,9 km (Pomonte) - 24,2 (Patresi)
Height above sea level: 816 m

The third stage of the GTE is from Procchio to Pomonte (or Patresi).

Once you leave the main road in Procchio, you go upwards and follow the path for Monte Castello (226 m above sea level) where we suggest you go on a brief tour of the area so that you can go and see the remains of a large, Etruscan fortress that lies hidden in the Mediterranean bush; it was built to keep a watchful eye from above the Gulf of Marina di Campo, and during World War II it was used as a military outpost and observation post.

You keep going along what seems more like a tunnel through the bush until you reach the junction with the path number 180 and the junction number 121 for Sant'Ilario. At this point you have to face a steep descent that gets you to Monte Perone in just under an hour.

From here the GTE goes along (as far as the junction) the "Sanctuary of the Butterflies", an important butterfly reproduction area and you then get to the area known as "Malpasso" or the"GTE junction" that is at a lower height above sea level and you get to the Passo delle Filicaie (870 m above sea level).

Here you turn left and head south-westwards, along the ridge that separates the wide Pomonte valley from that in Vallebuia and the valley in Seccheto.

Going down from a height of 839 m above sea level to 0 m above sea level you first get to Colle della Grottaccia (647 m), then Le Mure (630 m), then Monte Cenno (592 m) and finally Monte Orlano (546 m) and once here you will get to Pomonte in no time.

This part of the route is very suggestive: dry stone walls everywhere, as well as "caprili" (shepherds' huts built in granite that today are no longer in use), clearings and vineyards that in the past could be found all over the valley.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to follow the other route, when you get to the "GTE junction" turn right and follow the path below Monte Capanne until you get to the junction with the path number 110. Here you head left and go upwards until you get to località la Tavola at 900 m above sea level then from then on it's all downhil, but strange as it may seem you actually head north until you get to Serraventosa then you are at your destination in Patresi. It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to cover this route.

View here the third stage of the GTE from Procchio to Pomonte »

View here the third stage of the GTE from Procchio to Patresi »