Cava - Sergio Rosa Path - Monte Finestra - Pucara - Maiori

Premise

This route was walked on August 21, 2021, and all subsequent observations and considerations fully apply only to that day.

It is all on paths mapped on the hiking maps of the area, both the CAI one of the Monti Lattari and those of the Amalfi Coast series by “cart&guide.”

The entire route is included in OpenStreetMap and derivatives.

Given all this basic documentation, just a little attention is enough and you won’t get lost even if you go for the first time as we did.

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The Sergio Rosa Path – in my and my partner’s opinion – is the most beautiful hiking variant ascent to Monte Finestra.

From the start near the Il Casone Agritourism Farm, it is almost all a steady slope.

Some sections are quite steep but almost all of these are well stepped, maybe with high steps but still stepped.

A few slippery meters without being worrying, and a few short sections with a helping cable alternated with some metal pegs to lean on.

Climbing, the beauty is ... behind your back with the panorama that breathes more and more.

From the north summit of Monte Finestra we passed to the south summit through the usual itinerary: initial descent on the ridge heading west-southwest, then turning south, and finally east on a “path - almost ledge” to reach the Forcella del Monte Finestra with its characteristic hole in the rock.

From here a short climb to the south summit of Monte Finestra – this entire part is very well marked with CAI signs.

The continuation is towards the “Foce di Tramonti” saddle from which you descend to Tramonti via the Tramontane Path which is numbered CAI 309 on maps.

Now you must cross the wide valley to Paterno Sant’Elia on the other side following the 13 Churches Path numbered CAI 310.

It is an alternation of small roads, paths and original passages inside the hamlets of the Municipality of Tramonti.

After crossing the SP 2/b Chiunzi-Polvica-Maiori (with a providential fountain a few meters after), you cross the bridge over the Reginna River and after just over 100 meters you start the staircase of Via Ferriera Sant’Elia.

You climb the stairs, among alleys, for about 85 meters elevation gain to the Church of Sant’Elia where you leave the 13 Churches Path to join the Formichelle Path or CAI 310c – actually, to date, there are no signposts with this numbering and the toponym Formichelle or Formiche, but this is how it is indicated on the CAI Monti Lattari website which also publishes a dedicated GPS recording and all the interesting historical information about it (see link → Formichelle Path).

According to my GPS (with data almost identical to those published by CAI Monti Lattari) in the direction of today’s walk the Formichelle Path has – over 4.8 km of linear distance – about 215 meters of descent and 270 of ascent.

After just over 400 initial meters on asphalt there are two sections, at the beginning and end, with path-type walkways and a central part of about 1.9 km of unpaved service road for lemon groves.

The Formichelle Path ends at the junction with path CAI 315a which from Maiori climbs towards the Convent of San Nicola.

After a few meters of descent there is a fork with a choice of direction between Maiori and Minori, and today we chose Maiori as the final destination.