We leave Gazzano heading south, following the provincial road which at this point is called Via Benedetti and descends toward the Dolo stream. In this case, we are upstream of the dam, and after crossing the watercourse on a regular road bridge, we climb back up toward Fontanaluccia, still on asphalt. After about 1 kilometer and a few switchbacks, our route turns sharply to the right onto a small road between houses, also marked with signs from the Partisan Trails network.
After passing the church and the inn, in the area of the sports facilities, we continue straight on a gravel road. Here begins the section known as the “Rosary Trail.” After a climb through the woods, the slope eases until we reach the buildings of the Macchiaccia Hermitage.
This is one of the “Houses of Charity” founded by Don Mario Prandi, parish priest of Fontanaluccia, during World War II. Here, the path turns right to begin the final climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Neve di Pietravolta.
The sanctuary lies slightly below the Via Matildica route but can be reached in a few minutes, after which we resume our walk towards San Pellegrino.
Trail markers guide us along a high-altitude path (caution on steep sections if it has rained) toward the locality of Roncatello. A few hundred meters before the houses, the path becomes paved again.
In Roncatello, at the intersection on a wide bend, we turn right uphill toward Civago, then after a few meters, we turn left onto a dirt road.
We continue straight ahead, avoiding detours, toward our next destination: first the area of Boscoreale and then “San Geminiano Prati Fiorentini.” San Geminiano is the patron saint of Modena, and on this stretch, the Via Matildica del Volto Santo coincides with the Via Bibulca, an ancient Roman road named for its unusual width (for its time): wide enough for two oxen side by side.
From San Geminiano, near the oratory, we keep right to ascend on a dirt road that soon curves left and continues uphill on easy terrain. It’s a 3-kilometer forest path leading us to the Passo delle Radici, a historic mountain pass between Emilia and Tuscany at an elevation of 1,530 meters.
At Passo delle Radici, our route descends to the right at the start of the old ski slopes and continues for 2 kilometers until we reach an opening over the valley near the Pradaccio refuge.
A short final stretch and a little effort remain: less than a kilometer ahead awaits San Pellegrino in Alpe, with its slender wooden cross suspended between earth and sky.
