Aprica Loop Route - Bratte Location - Colonia Bustese

Starting from the Piazza delle sei contrade, one travels along Corso Roma in an easterly direction until turning right onto Via Tonale. Continue to the crossroads on Via Ospitale, at the side of the road we find two fountains where we can fill our water bottles with excellent fresh water, and when we reach the fork above the contrada of S. Pietro we turn left. The road turns from asphalt to dirt as soon as we cross the bridge over the Ogliolo and begin to climb. Views of Aprica, Pian di Gembro and Mount Padrio accompany us on this section of an easy trail suitable for everyone. Birches, firs and larches by the roadside help us with their shade while sheltering us from the sun in the more challenging sections. The road continues in an easterly direction passing some huts and without much effort after a few hairpin bends that allow us to climb in altitude we find ourselves at a crossroads.

We continue to the left where the road descends and crosses a small stream. (Deviating to the right and continuing on the road to the west we reach in a few minutes the small church dedicated to St. John in the locality of Bratte.)

The road continues to descend without much elevation gain at the edge of the forest and allows us to observe from above the area of S. Pietro di Corteno Golgi.

When we arrive at the crossroads we take the road that descends to the left, and after a few hairpin bends we find ourselves near the Colonia and return toward the starting point along Via Valeriana and Via Europa.