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Track 6

Sport and leisure > Country tracks for mountain bike and trekking

Casastrada > Collegalli > Balconevisi

This track develops almost entirely on dirt roads. You will get through a particularly interesting area as regards landscapes and sceneries. It is characterized by the beautiful Barbialla and Collegalli woods and badlands. This track has also an alternative side path which links the main one with the small village of Sughera.

1. Casastrada > Collegalli > Balconevisi > Forni > Casastrada

Distance	DIFFERENCE IN LEVEL	TIME
Km 10.5	0 mt	4 h e 50 min.

From the houses of Casastrada, where the Barbialla Farm's directional centre is located, take via Collegalli, a dirt road which crosses the river Egola and then starts to go up the hills near the buildings of Boccioleto; then it gets through a bushy vegetation until San Paolo's farm, a small group of houses with a characteristic chapel.

After the farm, you can see on the left a pheasant stock aviary, while on your right side you can get a first glimpse of Collegalli's Villa and of the beutiful badlands - hills eroded by wind and rain. After 3 km from the beginning, near a cross hidden among cypress trees, you find the fork which if you take the road on your right, takes to Sughera.
After another km you find on the right the little San Vito' s church Continue until the Villa of Collegalli, whose entrance is visible after having passed by another pheasant stock aviary situated on the right. Turm left, after the villa's gate, going along the villa's park walls, until you see the other entrance.

Then you turn right going downhill among piles of stocked wood. Although the track continues in the wood you can still grasp lovely sights of the badlands. At the next crossroads you turn left going uphill and you go alongside an enclosure. Immediately before the farm of Montoderi, you can turn left for a rapid visit to the Jittle S.Giusto's church, built in the XI century but strongly modified in the following years. Montoderi, together with Doderi (on the south) and Poggioderi (on the east) is part of an ideal triangle famous for truffle production.

From Montoderi you continue on getting through a wood, always following the metallic enclosure, until you reach a level zone with cultivated fields. The path is now delimited by cypress- trees on-the right and by pine-trees on the left. After going through other wood parts and olive groves follow the dirt road till Balconevisi, a small village belonging to S.Miniato 's territory. Cross completely the village and then, following the asphalt road until the bottom of the valley, turn left in Via Fomacino after the small group of houses of San Guido.

Thereat begins the last part of the track, between cultivated fields and roundish hills. The asphalt road continues for about 2 km, thus allowing a fantastic view of the Romanic parish of Corazzano, on the left. Then the dirt road begins again as you turn on the right. Turn right one more time at the next fork and go on until you notice on your right side a mined building, which once was a tobacco house belonging to Collegalli's farm. Keep going admiring the summit of Barbialla castle until you reach the very first part of the track.

2. San Vito > Sughera

Distance	DIFFERENCE IN LEVEL	TIME
Km 4.6	+ 20 mt	2 h e 30 min.

The track S.Vito - Sughera is characterized by very beautiful views of the hills round Montaione and of the neighbouring, area belonging to Pisa's district. It is very easy to follow because the track winds almost completely along a metallic enclosure. From via Collegalli you go through a short path in the wood and you keep going along Barbialla's faunistic hunting farm enclosure. You go through -woods and olive groves until you pass by a gate near Barbialla Nuova's' cattle stock farm feeding troughs. Keep going along the, fence until the dirt road starts to go downhill, first gently and then steeply. The view now shows the beautiful hilly landscape of Montaione's territory.

Pass by another gate and continue to follow the track which alternates level zones and downhill roads, which can cause troubles during the rainy periods. Get through pastures and cultivated fields. You will see now in front of you the small village of Sughera, while on your right you can enjoy a beautiful view over the picturesque village Toiano and its badlands.

Pass by a third gate near the ruins of the house Mendaccino; shortly after the track leaves the fence to go on on the right and then on the left, until you meet other barbed wire enclosures. The track starts to go uphill towards Sughera, meeting on your left a farm with rural buildings used for breeding sheep. You will arrive in Sughera near the old schools.