Tomb of the Beech Wood – Gualterotta Tower – Castle of Bisciaro edited by Daniele Canini

 

The starting point of the excursion is located near the church of San Giovanni del Pantano and after about 250 meters, take the right way toward Umbertide (sent. 418).

After about 100 meters, turn left toward the cemetery (strada dei Calderoni); the path is initially a steep climb.

Go along the unpaved road for about two kilometers and enjoy a breathtaking panorama with Monte Tezio on the left and, shortly after, Monte Acuto on the right. You arrive at a crossroad: take the right and continue on a flat road and after only a few hundred meters, you find a downhill path on the right that in short leads to Gualterotta Tower, which is visible at 400 m.

A visit to the ruins is recommended even if it is better to be very careful, the danger of collapse is real. At the end of the visit, go up toward the main road and, turning to the right, you can reach what remains of the Villa del Faggeto with its characteristic garden totally abandoned, in which two palm trees stand, pretty unusual in this area. Continue uphill at the next crossroad for about a quarter of an hour. Once reached a field that is currently a pasture, continue on the left always uphill and follow carefully the main trace that is now available in deteriorated part for the work of wood cutting.

Arrived to a small crest, always continue to the left, then descend on the right for a few metres away and there you will be on the edge of a cultivated field; continue on a hill to the left for a short distance until you come to a fairly well outlined path; continue on the right between the dense bushland along a track more or less flat until you reach the junction, in the middle of a curve, with the road from Borgo Giglione goes toward the plain of Nese.

A few meters below there is the block of “Bisciaiuolo”, while climbing you reach in a short time the castle of the “Bisciaro” whose name recalls numerous and bizarre local legends. Then continue on the dirt road flanked by woods and Mediterranean vegetation until you reach a street where you take on a slight slope on the left; then, after a few steps, you have to turn to the right, slightly downhill, and you have to continue until the restructured house “Marano”.

Once arrived near an old barrier, continue to the left on a small dirt bumpy road initially downhill that leads, between hills and gullies grayscale, to dirt road which climbs from “Santa Lucia” and leads to a restored building, “Maranaccio”. Pass near the house and continue untile you soon arrive at the junction on the left, a steep climb that leads to the Etruscan tomb of the beech wood. Climb for about 500 meters up to the sign that indicates the location. A visit to the small but interesting tomb is unmissable. Take again the drop-down track already walked and return to the unpaved main road. By bending to the left, you get from here to the road coming from Pantano. Pass next to the beautiful restored farmhouse Col di Giorgio and arrive at the crossroad previously left. Now you can take the dirt road that leads to the cemetery and then to the church of San Giovanni del Pantano.

 

LOCATION: LEVEL GROUND – HILL

tIME OF EXCURSION: ABOUT 3 HOURS

DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE: 450. mt

DISTANCE:11 km

DIFFICULTY: E

START: 8 am

MEETING POINT UMBERTIDE (PLATFORM)

EQUIPMENT HIKING BOOT, WATER

NOTES: EXCURSION ETRUSCAN TOMB OF THE BEECH WOOD