GTB Section 15: Quittengo - Oropa
Start: Quittengo (800 m)
Finish: Sanctuary of Oropa (1150 m)
GtB legs: 55-57
Passing through: Driagno (770 m) Riabella (880 m) Oneglie (777 m)
Length: 16.6 km
Ascents and descents: 824 m (climb) 474 m (descent)
Time required: 6’40”
Difficulty: E - (Average)
Comments: The first part of the itinerary passes through ancient villages and hamlets. The second part of the route follows the Tracciolino, a panoramic path that seems to have been planned by a landscape designer.
After descending to the Torrent Cervo, you cross it at Asmara. Climb to Mortigliengo and continue through a wood of fir and beech towards Bariola. If it is raining, it is better to head for Driagno and take the paved road, otherwise continue on the path that will take you to the rather difficult crossing of the Torrent Rivazza. From Driagno take the steep path to a rise called the Belvedere, then continue to some ruined huts, and the chapel called the Cappella Orio delle Vigne, which is ringed by large chestnut trees in the Parco degli Arbo. Pass through the village of Riabella and continue on the wide mule-track. Ford the Rio Luchiana and shortly after you will come to Oneglie. Here you turn right onto path E5, which climbs steeply towards Mount Cucco. The effort required on this, the toughest climb on the GtB, is well recompensed by the beauty of the journey along path E1, which joins the Sanctuary of San Giovanni in the Cervo Valley with the Sanctuary of Oropa. After a spectacular amble along the south face of Mount Cucco, you enter the forest. When you come out the other side you are rewarded with views of the Sanctuary of Oropa, which, with its Sacro Monte, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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