Excursion to Monte Bano from Montoggio

Easy and beautiful excursion about twenty kilometers from Genoa, which reaches the summit of the panoramic Monte Bano, which dominates the great artificial lake of Val di Noci. Montoggio can boast very ancient origins, even if the first written documents date back to the twelfth century.
Among the beauties to see, we point out the ruins of the ancient castle that belonged first to the Malaspina and then to the Fieschi; the precious art gallery of the parish church of San Giovanni He took off, inserted in the historical museum of the Upper Scrivia Valley, and finally the sanctuary of the Three Fountains, built in the 18th century on an ancient monastery.

Reached by car the town of Montoggio, it is worth parking near Piazza Balilla (450 meters altitude). A few tens of meters away, towards Busalla, take on the left (south) a stairway (signs) that leads to the hamlet Molino. Continuing along the road, you reach the nearby resort Carpi, where the asphalt ends (altitude 508 meters). Then turn right along a mule track, which you follow for 100 meters: as soon as you enter a lawn, it bends again to the right, following the mule track partly invaded by vegetation. Later you enter the woods, where the track becomes rather steep: numerous narrow bends allow you to reach the ridge of the mountain, at 850 meters above sea level.

Then bending to the left (east) you continue along the comfortable ridge that, unmistakably and without difficulty, leads to the panoramic summit of Monte Bano: altitude 1056 meters, 1.45 hours from Montoggio. The return takes place along the same path as the climb and takes an hour. The Lake of Val di Noci, an artificial basin of Val Noci, which you can reach, was built in the 1920s, blocking the course of Rio Noci with a powerful dam of massive gravity 56 meters high, creating an overflow containing 3.3 million cubic meters of water.

The lake is surrounded by lush vegetation, with mixed chestnut woods, alders, hornbeam, butler pendants, wild cherry trees and ash trees. The daffodil of poets also blooms on the surrounding peaks. Finally, the lake is frequented by many fishermen, because in its waters there are trout, chubs, barbs and carp.

Travel time: 2.45 hours
Starting altitude: 450 m.
Elevation gain: m. 606
< strong>difficulty: T - Tourist

Recommended period: All year round, in the absence of snow

Region: Liguria
Province: Genoa& lt; /b>