The Forest of Brattello, located in the municipality of Pontremoli, spans 322 hectares along the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. This forest area, once dominated by pastures and coppice woodlands, was reforested in the twentieth century with conifers and hardwoods such as black pines, beeches, chestnuts, and turkey oaks. The forest is also home to a rich variety of fauna, including hares, roe deer, wild boars, foxes, red squirrels, and other species.
The forest is traversed by a network of trails that connect to the Grande Escursione Appenninica, the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, and the Sentiero Italia. It also offers several routes for mountain biking enthusiasts, forming part of the Lunigiana Bike Area.
The Via degli Abati, once used by the monks of San Colombano di Bobbio on their journey to Rome, also crosses through Brattello. This historical path is partially retraced during the Abbots Way, a sporting event inspired by the monks' original itinerary.
Other fascinating features of the Brattello Forest include ancient settlements known as Capanne or Cascine, especially concentrated in the southern part of the forest—testaments to the area's rural
