A hiking route for "Maledetti Toscani"

There is a path of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI n. 410) between the hills of Prato that climbs up to the top of Monte Le Coste, Spazzavento for Prato people, and which leads to the Mausoleum of the famous Prato writer, journalist and filmmaker Curzio Malaparte.

He wanted to be buried on that barren peak beaten by the north wind as the famous phrase of "Maledetti Toscani" reminds us: "I would like to have my tomb up there, on the summit of Spazzavento, to raise my head every now and then and spit in the cold north wind channel".

And how to blame him! The panorama that opens before our eyes from this position leaves you speechless. A 180 ° view that sweeps over the river Bisenzio plain, with Florence and Pistoria on either side, the Monte Ferrato complex, Monte Javello and the karst chain of Calvana mountains.

It was certainly not an easy task to bring the six-ton travertine monoblock there, but the people of Prato fulfilled the wish of their illustrious fellow citizen by building an impassable cart track in the woods.

Today the main routes to get to the Mausoleum, immersed in a rich vegetation of oaks, holm oaks and floral species, wide meadows and steep slopes, are two:

From the South (Villa Filicaia car park in Santa Lucia) CAI path n. 410

Total length: 2.8 km
Total difference in height: 445 meters
Difficulty: medium
Overall duration: about 2 hours

From the North (La Collina di Prato) CAI path n. 412

Total length: 3.2 km
Total difference in height: 82 meters
Difficulty: medium
Overall duration: about 1 hour and 15 minutes

This path can also be intercepted from Canneto.

If the time available allows it, many other minor routes all marked by the CAI, can extend our journey from a few hours to the whole day. So we just have to organize the backpack and go!

Track of the Malaparte Path - CAI n. 410 (35.2 KB)