Foce a Giovo is a pass of considerable panoramic and hiking interest, located at about 1700m above sea level, on the main ridge along the CAI 00 path.
The pass connects the Tagliole valley, located on the Emilian side (Panaro basin), with the Fegana valley (Serchio basin), located on the Tuscan side.
The Foce, used as a pass by the ancient Via Ducale, the last historic major communication road to be opened on our Apennines (1823), consists of a narrow saddle between the Femminamorta ridge to the east (Alpe di Tre Potenze subgroup) and the Borra al Fosso ridge that rises to the west towards the massive pyramid of Rondinaio (Monte Giovo subgroup).
The Foce a Giovo area is of considerable interest, not only from a naturalistic point of view, but also from a historical point of view, both for the events that led to its opening, and because the pass was a major node in the defensive system of the Gothic Line, set up by the Wehrmacht during the last world war.
From the Foce you can enjoy beautiful views of the entire upper Tagliole valley and, looking south-west, of the underlying gorge of the Orrido di Botri and the reliefs of the Serchio valley and the Pisan mountains.
With a bit of luck, on the best days it is also possible to see the pair of golden eagles in flight that nests in the nearby vertiginous walls of the Balzo del Cane.
From our refuge you can reach the Foce via the CAI 517 path, in about 1h 30' of walking.
