Casa Rocchino: Trails, Landscape and History

Casa Rocchino is one of the small settlement clusters of nearby Adelano. Adelano’s hamlets are generally arranged around a single farmstead, with scattered houses extending up the hillside. Nearby Adelano itself is a scattered settlement in the valley: the Torrente Adelano runs through the village, and the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena stands in the center. The settlement landscape faces the valley, the nearby ridge and the ascent to Monte Gottero.

Trails, Elevations and Nature

A winding road connects some of Adelano’s hamlets; steep side roads climb toward Monte Gottero. Longer gravel roads cross Pian del Merlo. There is also a circular route: a steep ascent with hairpin bends leads to Pian di Berceto, then reconnects with the main road at an almost constant elevation of about 1,250 metres. The routes described therefore differ both in surface and in course.

On its AV2 route, the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri passes Bocca del Lupo, Monte Gottero, Foce dei Tre Confini, Pian del Merlo, Casa Biagi, the bridge over the Torrente Adelano and Passo Calzavitello. An equestrian tourism variant passes through Chiusola. The routes thus offer different points of reference: the sequence of named places along the AV2 and the variant’s connection with the village of Chiusola.

Nearby natural attractions include the Stretti di Giaredo, a gorge on the Torrente Gordana between Pontremoli and Zeri. Its most easily accessible section is about one kilometre long. As conditions in a watercourse can change seasonally, check the situation before visiting. The Stretti di Giaredo and the Valle del Torrente Gordana are part of the Natura 2000 network and are designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the name “Valle del Torrente Gordana”.

Villages and Regional History

Formentara is an old summer-pasture village at an elevation of 1,120 metres. Its characteristic buildings include stone huts with roofs made of “piagne”—flat roofing elements made from local stone. Chiusola, in turn, is a medieval rural settlement with 16th-century houses and castle ruins. Visitors interested in historic village settings will find different examples here: a village shaped by summer grazing and a settlement of medieval origin.

Foce dei Tre Confini also tells the story of border regions. The old pass was a boundary point between Parma, Tuscany and Genoa—that is, between states from the period before Italian unification. Construction of the bell tower of the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Adelano began in 1886; it was completed only toward the end of the 19th century. This historical detail concerns the tower and its construction, not whether the church can be visited today.

Adelano’s history also includes a weaving tradition: a work fabric in indigo blue called “büdana” was once made there. Another regional specialty is Agnello di Zeri, raised semi-wild on local hay; the lambs must suckle from their mothers and graze until slaughter. A traditional recipe from Zeri uses “testi”.

Cycling, Pilgrimage and Getting There

Parco Fiera di Adelano in Località Casa Rocchino, 54029 Zeri (MS), Italy, is the meeting point for Zeri Bike & Trail. This non-competitive sporting event in Lunigiana is aimed at cycling and trail enthusiasts. From Parma, the route to the meeting point follows the A15 to the Pontremoli exit, then the SP37 Pontremoli–Zeri and onward toward Adelano.

Pilgrims also have a special connection to the area: the Franciscan hermitage of Santa Maria Maddalena is in nearby Adelano, close to the borders of Tuscany with Emilia and Liguria. It is located on the Chemin d’Assise and also welcomes people walking this pilgrimage route. A stay in the area therefore brings together a historic settlement landscape, trails and a pilgrimage route, without implying that these different destinations offer the same travel experience.

Discover more destinations: Coloretta

Back to the main travel overview: Zeri.