Passo della Vecchia

The Passo della Vecchia is an ancient mountain pass in the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines, once a crucial route connecting the Santerno Valley and the Mugello region. Used for centuries by merchants, travelers, armies, and pilgrims, this pass was one of the main transit routes between Tuscany and Romagna, facilitating the trade of agricultural products, wool, and spices, as well as serving as a strategic passage for military movements. It is believed that the pass was already frequented in Etruscan and Roman times, but its peak usage was during the Middle Ages when it represented an alternative to the better-known Via Faentina for those crossing the Apennines. The name "Passo della Vecchia" seems to derive from an ancient popular legend linked to an elderly healer who lived in a hut near the pass and offered shelter to travelers in need. Over the centuries, the pass has been the stage for numerous historical events and curious tales. It is said that during the Risorgimento, groups of patriots used it to escape from Austrian patrols or to transport secret messages between the two regions. Furthermore, during World War II, it was a route used by partisans to avoid checks by German troops along the main roads. Another legend tells of a group of bandits who hid in the woods around the pass and, taking advantage of the dense vegetation, attacked solitary merchants. This reputation contributed to making it a place shrouded in mystery and fear, to the extent that some avoided it, opting for longer but considered safer routes. With the improvement of communication routes and the construction of new drivable roads between Tuscany and Romagna, the Passo della Vecchia gradually fell into disuse. The opening of the Faentina railway in the 19th century and the subsequent paving of more modern roads made the pass less frequented, leaving it only for use by shepherds and hiking enthusiasts.

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