Passo della Tambura

The long and challenging circular route over the Passo Sella and the Passo della Tambura in the Apuan Alps in north-western Tuscany is an absolute highlight tour with historic trails and magnificent views of the Mediterranean.

Description

The tour starts in the port town of Massa, in the northern area near the Frigido river. From there, the route rides steadily uphill on asphalt through a few hairpin bends towards Pian della Fioba. Even during the ascent, it becomes clear that the area offers countless trail options, as numerous paths have been laid out here for centuries. Shortly before the Galleria Monte Pelato, the extensive mining that is carried out in this region becomes visible. The famous Carrara marble is quarried here and shipped all over the world. After crossing the gallery, a gravel ramp with a medium to moderate gradient continues upwards until you finally reach Passo Sella. The Passo Sella offers a magnificent backdrop as the first crossing.

The descent begins on an old mule track with a difficulty of S2, which rides steadily downhill. This historic path is perfectly adapted to the conditions and leads to the next uphill. Past another marble quarry, another mule track winds its way uphill towards the Passo della Tambura. This section is partly rideable on an e-bike, but you will have to push in places. The Passo della Tambura itself offers breathtaking views and a perfect trail descent. On countless hairpin bends, the trail meanders steadily downhill on difficulty level S2 on the Via Vandelli until you gradually reach populated areas and finally hit relatively steep asphalt. You then roll back to the starting point of the tour in a relaxed manner.

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