Top 5 Natural Monuments in Parco Regionale Dell'Aveto

Pria Burgheisa (Pietra Borghese) is a massive outcrop of mantle peridotites, among the best-known and most significant in the area. It lies on the southwestern edge of the Prato Mollo plateau, on the southern slopes of Mount Aiona, at an altitude of 1,465 m. It is a geosite of considerable petrographic, mineralogical, and regional geological interest, allowing us to study the evolution of a portion of the lithospheric mantle subsequently involved in the Apennine orogeny. The outcrop has a highly irregular shape: 30 m long, 10 m wide at its maximum, and 7–8 m high. The rocks are dark in color, ranging from blackish to brownish; the mass is affected by three main fracture systems, more or less orthogonal to each other, which fragment it into numerous square-shaped blocks. The surface of the blocks has a pitted appearance, as the pyroxene crystals, more resistant to erosion than olivine, remain prominent. At the outcrop, mantle foliation is evident, due to the presence of frequent pyroxenite bands. Source: Liguria Geosite Registry.

Not far from the Aiona–Pratomollo Refuge, near the dirt road, you come across Pietra Borghese, a truly unique rocky outcrop. At first glance, it may seem like a simple dark mass that emerges from the pastures, but it is actually a very ancient rock, among the oldest in Italy: it is over two billion years old and actually comes from the Earth's mantle. Its composition, rich in magnetite, causes compasses to go crazy in the surrounding area, and it is not uncommon for its summit to be struck by lightning during storms. Some legends have also developed around this stone, including one that wants it to be a meteorite that fell from the sky. In reality, its true charm lies in its deep geological origin, which tells an ancient story linked to the birth of the Apennines and the disappearance of a prehistoric ocean.

from the Passo delle Lame towards Giacopiane with the initial part very beautiful and fun, in the central part you risk losing the path which is a bit technical but still doable for, the final part is very beautiful and at times even well beaten (worth it)

From the meadow adjacent to the road that leads to the Monte Aiona refuge, you can enjoy a beautiful panorama that extends to the sea.

Pietra Borghese is a real geological jewel and represents the most beautiful peridotite outcrop in the entire Apennines. Its shape and particular characteristics have fueled a series of legends over the centuries that make this rocky mass one of the most mysterious places in the entire Aveto Regional Natural Park.

Breathtaking view on clear days from the terrace of the refuge on Monte Aiona. A nice walk on Prato Mollo and you regenerate yourself!

The Borghese Stone has a particular shape and structure that attracts lightning and resonates in a metallic way; in fact, it contains abundant magnetite that causes compasses to go crazy. Many legends circulate about its origin: among these, one that depicts it as a meteorite with an ever-burning fire inside and the home of a gigantic snake. In reality, it represents a true geological jewel: it is in fact an outcrop of peridotites. We are talking about lherzolitic peridotites (the name derives from the Lherz Massif, an Alpine peridotite complex in the French Pyrenees), rocks from the subcontinental mantle that progressively rose, surfacing on the bottom of an ancient ocean (the Ligurian-Piedmont Ocean) during the extensional processes that caused it to open. These rocks, radiometrically dated approximately 2.5 billion years, are among the oldest in Italy

Panorama from the lawn adjacent to the road that leads to the Monte Aiona Refuge