white blazes. The path dips down, the ground is rough, but soon one comes to clearing in the wood where we swing left, turning uphill looking for the blazes on the trees.
Looking up to the cypress trees on the hilltop, we get our bearings and ten minutes later, keeping the hilltop on our left, we reach to the red-and-white marks on the rock –
MONTECECERI ————-BORGUNTO
MAIANO
This time we take the left-hand path to Montececeri, past a quarry up to the right and at the first Y-junction take a few steps forward, then to the left along a short path for a striking view from the top of the open face quarry over to the distant hills and down along the valleys.
Retracing our steps, we follow this path with the red-and-white marks and after 10 minutes reach an uphill stretch along a wooden handrail and stone steps. The path spirals round to the left until we reach Piazzale Leonardo da Vinci. A few benches and tables are available for rest and picnics.
The board shows its history. This place is dedicated to the memory of Leonardo da Vinci’s first human flight experiment.
The translation of stone column reads –
The great bird will rise to its first flight over the summit of Ceceri,
filling the universe will awe and filling with its fame all writings and
with eternal glory the nest where it was born.
Leaving the Piazzale, take the wide path along the garden wall on the left, that leads downhill for a few minutes to a mapboard, where we turn left after the road barrier a small open area of hard ground comes into view with a quaint little church on the corner.
This is Piazza dei Pini and the parish church of Borgunto, seated like a Christian seer in the midst