Caratteristica: Facile via al Monte Sumbra dal Passo Fiocca

The Ferrata Malfatti is an easy road that goes up Monte Sumbra from the slope of Passo Fiocca, in the southern Apuans. It develops above all on grassy balconies exposed but never complicated, with the cable that acts as a handrail: a route suitable for those who approach the ferrates.

The starting point is the village of Arni (Lucca), reachable from the Garda side or from the Versilia along the SP13: from Garfagnana (Castelnuovo) turn right before the gallery towards Campagrina and Arni; from Versilia you pass the gallery and turn left for Arni. Starting point on Google Maps. Parked at the obvious church, you climb the staircase and behind you take a road towards the last houses of Arni, where the CAI 144 path begins for the Fiocca Pass (1560 m). The path climbs steep between junipers and shrubs, then halfway the south wall of Monte Fiocca (traccia not always evident, follow the signs); after Malpasso (1h 40' from the parking lot) you face a passage not protected a bit more complex and exposed. Then you enter a beech forest, you get two often dry streams and, beyond a grassy stretch, you reach a saddle; from here a steep slope of rocks and then naked marble leads to Passo Fiocca (2h 30' from the parking lot). From the pass turn right onto the CAI 145 towards the wall of the Sumbra and in a short time you reach the attack (15' from the Fiocca Pass, 2h 45' from the parking lot).

The road goes up the south slope of the Sumbra, daring at first sight but in reality more equipped path than real ferrata. Start by reassembling some rocks and continue between exposed grassy balzes until you get on the main path for the summit (30' from the attack, 3h 15' from the parking lot). Turning left on steep ascent you will arrive in short at the top of Mount Sumbra, with satisfying view between the Apennines, sea and Apuane (3h 25' from the parking lot).

Technical difficulty contained, with the value of bringing to the top of a mountain: a good choice to start with the ferrates.

Ferrata Malfatti was installed in 1987.

From the summit the ferrata goes back to Passo Fiocca, where there are two options: redefine the steep CAI 144 backwards towards Arni (about 2h from Sumbra, 5h 30' total); or continue straight on CAI 144 (and climb to Monte Fiocca in 40' a/r) that, bypassing the north wall of Fiocca, leads to Passo Sella, from which 31.

For length and difference in altitude it is difficult to concatenate in the day, but stopping in the southern Apuans you can walk in the adjacent days Ferrata Salvatori e la Ferrata del Procinto.