Monte Giovo (1964 mt) is located in the Appennino tosco-emiliano, a big mountain range crossing two regions, as the name suggests, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, and it’s the second highest peak of Tuscany.
Giovo mountain bound with other peaks: Grotta Rosa (1953 mt), Altaretto (1877 mt), La Porticciola (1902 mt) and Il Passetto (1980 mt).
This group of mountains fits into one of the most beautiful landscape contexts of the area.
The name of the mountain could have origins from the Latin “giovio”, an adjective meaning “pertinent to Jupiter”, and the dedication to this divinity could be related to the name of the lake at the bases Lago Santo, meaning “saint lake”.
RING HIKE FROM LAGO SANTO TO MONTE GIOVO AND RONDINAIO
STARTING POINT / Rifugio Alpino Vittoria (1.501 mt)
EQUIPMENT / hiking boots
DISTANCE / 9 km total
TIME / 6 hours return
OVERALL TIME / all day
ELEVATION / 460 mt
DIFFICULTY / EE
TRAILS / CAI 525 – CAI 00 – CAI 523
HIKERS / Giulio, Daniele and Andrea
On the 21st of July Daniele, Andrea and myself decided to go climb up to Monte Giovo (1991 mt) in a ring hike towards Monte Rondinaio (1964 mt) along the ridge, and then descend back to Lago Santo.
After about two and a half hours driving from Florence we arrived at the parking spot of Lago Santo modenese, where we left the car and got everything set up to go up.
The CAI trail 525 starts right from the Rifugio Vittoria at Lago Santo.
Arrived at the hut you need to keep the left between it and the lake, till you get into a small wood.
The trail begins immediately uphill, opening up to an area with low vegetation, a challenging slope and a very rocky terrain.
After about 40 hardcore minutes getting out of small wood we arrived at the green bases of the mountains.
From there you can see the cross that stands out from the summit of Monte Giovo (1991 mt).
Behind us, downstream, the view was breathtaking.
After a brief stop we kept hiking up towards the ridge where the CAI Trail 525 meets CAI Trail 00.
Reached the ridge, turning right for a small deviation from the ring took us to Monte Giovo summit in less than 10 minutes.
Quick lunch break and then again on our way back along the ridge to continue towards Monte Rondinaio on the CAI trail 00
From here on the CAI trail 00 at high altitude does not present difficulties. We walked along a grassy path with some rocky stretches of easy level.
After about 20 minutes there was the first and only technical point that required some precision and attention.
Four meters of steep rocks with the void on both sides to descend with the help of some chains and steel cables.
Keeping hiking on the ridge trail we left behind a series of rocky headlands, easy to go overcome.
After passing by Grotta Rosa (1954 mt), we found ourselves in between Altaretto (1877 mt) and La Porticciola (1902 mt), from where we could see above us clearly the valley where Lago Baccio sits at the bases of the mountain group.
Hiking further on the ridge and passed La Porticciola (1902 mt), the panorama opened up and we could clearly see in front of us the Monte Rondinaio (1964 mt) summit.
The last stretch reaching Il Passetto, before hiking up to Monte Rondinaio, is formed by a series of large rocky berms.
The whole mountain range we just climbed opened up just behind us, taking our breaths away. 
The whole panorama, before heading up to Monte Rondinaio.
At that point we were beyond Il Passetto (1890 mt), on the way up, admiring the view.
MORE / MONTE RONDINAIO WINTER HIKE
explore the same place in winter time
The last stretch extends straight to the summit of Monte Rondinaio (1964 mt), passing between grass and rock terrain. An easy walk up to the cross.
Once we reached the summit we had a break to recover and enjoy the 360° view.
With the sun still high in the sky, after about 20 minutes, we started descending towards the valley on the CAI Trail 523 that goes straight into the valley where Lago Baccio lies.
After 40 minutes we were at the bases of the mountains walking along the streams that lead to the lake.
After walking along the lake we went back through the beech forest to the car park.
Photo credits: Giulio Aprin – Daniele Gatti
