Fornovolasco: Monte Forato, Rock Arch and History

Fornovolasco is located in the Parco delle Alpi Apuane, in a narrow valley at the confluence of two streams. The village therefore combines a clearly defined landscape with remarkable destinations for hiking, nature experiences and culture. From Fornovolasco, hiking trails to the peaks begin in the Comprensorio delle Panie. The village is therefore particularly interesting for your travel planning if you want to experience mountain scenery and local history together rather than separately.

Monte Forato: two routes to an extraordinary natural landmark

The natural rock arch of Monte Forato is 32 metres wide and 26 metres high. This precise size ratio makes the mountain a destination in its own right within the Apuan Alps and gives the hike a clear point of reference. From Fornovolasco, you can reach Monte Forato via Trail 6 to the Foce di Petrosciana or via Junction 12 directly to the rock arch.

The two options mentioned differ in their documented routes: Trail 6 runs via the Foce di Petrosciana, while Junction 12 leads directly to the rock arch. In addition, a guided swinging experience in the rock arch is offered at Monte Forato. The tour lasts around five hours. Thus, alongside choosing your own route, an explicitly guided experience is also available, without the two types of visit needing to be treated as equivalent.

Hiking in the Comprensorio delle Panie

The trails beginning in Fornovolasco and leading to the peaks in the Comprensorio delle Panie give the village a clear focus on the mountain area. The landscape is not limited to a single landmark: the Comprensorio delle Panie forms the starting point for further trails to the peaks. If you want to organise your days around different mountain destinations, you can consider these two documented aspects separately.

Chiesa di San Francesco di Assisi and the history of the village

Fornovolasco is shaped not only by its trails and rock formations. The present-day Chiesa di San Francesco di Assisi was built in 1545. In 1610, it became an independent parish. The two dates describe different stages in its history: first, the construction of the present-day church, and later its development into an independent parish.

Iron production and iron processing have also been documented in Fornovolasco since the 14th century. This historical reference adds another aspect of the village’s history to a visit to the church. In this way, mountain trails, ecclesiastical architectural history and a craft tradition documented since the Middle Ages come together in one destination.

Grotta del Vento and further orientation

The Grotta del Vento is located in Fornovolasco, in the municipality of Fabbriche di Vergemoli, in the heart of the Apuan Alps. It complements the documented landscape and nature destinations in the village with another clearly identified site. If you would then like to explore other places in the same destination area, you can also find Calomini here.

For the overview of the wider area: Vergemoli.