This hike of moderate difficulty will take you from the church of Sant’Ambrogio in Cenate Sopra to the summit of Mount Misma, the first Orobic peak overlooking the plain.
C.A.I. trails: 607, 626, 627, 607
Difficulty: E Hiking
Starting point: Sant’Ambrogio (Cenate Sopra)
Destination: Sant’Ambrogio
Duration: 3 h
Minimum height: 450 m
Maximum height: 823 m
Difference in height: 373 m
Availability of water on the route: Fontanino del Plasso spring, running water at the Church of Santa Maria di Misma
Accessibility: from the state road S.S. 42, in the municipality of Trescore Balneario, follow the signs for Cenate Sopra and then take Via Sant’Ambrogio to the small village square
Parking: near the church and in Via Lazzarino
Route:
From the car park, follow the road (C.A.I. signpost 607) that leads to the church of S. Ambrogio, and continue until you reach an agritourism farm. We then proceed to the right along the steep cemented road, which we leave to the right along a path, following the signs for Santa Maria di Misma, along the steep historical mule track, which runs “in trenches” and still preserves stretches of dry-stone walls.
After a hairpin bend to the left, we reach the watering place of the Plasso locality and climb up the slope consisting of sedimentary rocks of marine origin that vary in age of formation. After ascending a few hairpin bends, the trail follows the steps that run alongside the Cà Nigra house, formerly a roccolo (bird-trapping installation). We continue on gradually gentler slopes, arriving in a few minutes at the solitary sanctuary of Santa Maria di Misma, built around 1000, at an altitude of 823 m, with a refreshment point on Saturdays and Sundays. From here, following trail marker 601, it takes about an hour to reach the summit of Monte Misma (1160 m asl), the first mountain bastion on the Bergamo plain. From the hermitage, however, one continues on the flat (trail sign 513 – 626) on the orographic right of Valle Calchera. Due to the risk of rocks collapsing from the walls above, there is an absolute ban on stopping on part of this route. Through pastures, you reach a wood and continue into the Nature Reserve – WWF Oasis of Valpredina, a Site of Community Interest for biodiversity protection and conservation. At a crossroads, leave the level path to descend to the left until reaching the locality of Cà Muratori. Now, following trail marker 627, continue the steep descent from Costa dei Muratori, and in half an hour, you will reach a dwelling with a votive shrine. Abandoning the track on the coast, we continue to the left, skirting an imposing dry-stone wall that joins the road that runs alongside the Calchera stream, a toponym due to ancient lime production activities (calchera means lime kiln). From here, continue uphill until turning right to take trail 607A. From here, continue uphill until turning right to take trail 607A. After fording the small stream, one ascends a hornbeam wood to reach the Plasso watering place. From here, follow the mule track (607) downhill again to return to the starting point.
Credits: Cooperativa Sociale l’Innesto Onlus and Consorzio Servizi Val Cavallina
