The Monte Maggiorasca (1810 m sea-level) is the highest peak of the Ligurian Appenines. It stands between the Province of Genova and Parma and a few hundred metres north there is the border with the Province of Piacenza which corresponds to the peak of the Monte Bue. The Monte Maggiorasca dominates the Val d’Aveto and in particular the area of Santo Stefano d’Aveto (GE) and the Ceno Valley with the area of Bedonia (PR). The Maggiorasca mountain group, which stands north of the Tomarlo Pass, includes the Monte Nero, the Groppo delle Ali and the Monte Roncalla as well as the already mentioned Monte Bue. In this way it represents an important orographic junction amongst the Nure, the Ceno and the Aveto valleys which are respectively located in the provinces of Piacenza, Parma and Genova.
The wide top of the Monte Maggiorasca, which is marked by its saddle shape, is formed by non-calcareous basalts and sandstone conglomerates. On its southern side, on a flat area at an altitude of 1799 m sea-level, stands teh statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe which was erected in 1947, whereas on the top of the mountain there is an antenna tower.
During the year the Monte Maggiorasca is a very popular destination for excursionists who come both from Emilian and Ligurian areas.
Near the mountain there are some short winter hiking trails and more numerous summer paths which have been equipped by a group of excursionists from Piacenza.
The flora of the Monte Maggiorasca massif is particularly interesting thanks to the coexistence of some alpine vegetal species and typical Apennine species.
In fact the Monte Maggiorasca is the only mountain area of the Ligurian Apennines here it is possible to see the Chrysosplenium alternifolium (a rare specie in the saxifrage family which is common of the Euro-Siberian areas), the Aquilegia alpina (a sub-endemic specie of the Northern Alps which can be rarely found in the Northern Apennines) and the Primula marginata a garish sub-endemic specie of the South-eastern Alps and of the Western Ligurian Apennines, whose presence is limited to some outcrops of basalts located in the northern side of the mountain on the border between the areas of Genova and Piacenza.
Always on the slopes of this mountain group grow the Soldanella alpina – also called Alpine Snow Bell – the Pulsatilla alpina or alpine pasqueflower and the Draba aizoides or Yellow Whitlowgrass. All these species are quite typical of the alpine vegetation but very rare in the Apennines.
Finally, amongst the Apennine species, the Armeria marginata and the Arenaria bertolonii are worth being mentioned as well as the Pinus mugo Rostrata which was originally more common in the mountain massifd of the Val d’Aveto whereas nowadays they are sporadically present also on the Emilian side. Moeover, in the northern area of the Monte Maggiorasca, it is possible to see some natural settlements (therefore not derived from sylvicolture) of Albies alba or white fir trees.
source: free translation from Wikipedia
