Monti: Mountain Trails, Nature and History in the Valli di Lanzo

Monti appeals to travelers who want to combine mountain landscapes, local history and physical activity. The specific destinations range from a marked mountain hike and an easy forest walk to a historic church, traces of former mining activities and a short cycling training route. This gives you a varied view of Monti, where nature, culture and activity stand side by side.

Mountain trails for different day plans

The Sentiero delle Carbonaie leads from Monti at 1,200 meters to Col Cialmetta at 1,303 meters. The trail has an elevation gain of about 120 meters, takes approximately one hour, is rated difficulty level E and bears trail marker 204A. For your day planning, this is a compact mountain hike with Col Cialmetta as its destination and a manageable duration.

The Sentiero dei Laghetti offers a different landscape experience. This easy walking trail passes through cool, shady beech and larch forests, where mushrooms are plentiful at suitable times. The trail begins below the chapel of Monti, next to an impressive monument commemorating resistance activities in the surrounding area. Nature and remembrance culture therefore accompany this walk from the very beginning.

Mountain meadows and the slopes of the Uja di Calcante

The Big Bench del Pian stands in mountain meadows covered with rhododendrons typical of this mountain region. It is easily reached via a 15–20-minute walk. This makes it possible to include the spot in a shorter outdoor stay, while the mountain meadows reveal the landscape character around Monti.

On the ridge between the Uja di Calcante and the nearby Punta Lunelle, which reaches 1,384 meters, there is a historic climbing area for mountaineers from Turin. The slopes of the Uja di Calcante are also home to one of the very few known populations of Euphorbia gibelliana. This endemic plant occurs exclusively in the Graian Alps. For visitors interested in natural history and alpine environments, this area therefore combines striking mountain forms with distinctive plant life.

Church and traces of the past

At the entrance to the Monti hamlet stands the Chiesa della Beata Vergine Assunta in a commanding position. The church can be reached via a staircase branching off from the road and is considered a typical example of the shepherds’ chapels built in the Valli di Lanzo between 1600 and 1700. It adds a specific cultural and historical reference to the trails and landscapes.

Several shafts and a former mule supply track on the slopes of the Uja di Calcante bear witness to mining activities that were discontinued toward the end of the 19th century. Monti thus shows not only natural features but also traces of an earlier use of the mountain landscape.

Experience Monti by bike

There is also a specific option for a more athletic itinerary: Monti–Rangirot is one of the short training routes in the area around Mezzenile. If you plan your stay with accommodation in Monti, you can organize your daily rhythm around the experiences you prefer—forests and mountain meadows, the church and monument, the slopes of the Uja di Calcante or a short cycling route. This leaves room for different interests without reducing Monti to just one type of trip.

More destinations for your travel planning

For further travel planning, you can also explore Rivoli, Germagnano, Baldissero Torinese, San Didero, Fenestrelle and Vacci.

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.

More about the destination

Relevant information for your travel planning:

Monti Sibillini National Park, Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park.