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Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times

bagi5. 04. 2016 21:04:08

Wonderful is this Carnic world of utterly forgotten places. Paths are nice, well-maintained, places mostly unknown and solitary. But they have soul, they have a hard-to-describe beauty that draws you if you're even slightly used to looking around and not just chasing speed records. There's plenty of it right here. Monticello summit, 1362 m high, was just our highest point, far from what we came for. The entire path was it and everything we experienced on it. Earthquake-toppled villages Moggessa di La and Moggessa di Qua, which they'll never fully rebuild, spirit of the past wafting from these ancient houses, narrow streets between them and remains of once mighty buildings wrecked by the 1976 quake. What they lived on there I'll never figure out. No roads, no electricity, no plumbing. No barns or fields in sight. Two forgotten villages and a deep gorge between them. And a trail, a very old trail leading from one to the other.

Some data for those who'd like to visit these spots. Start at Moggio, good 1.5 hours from Ljubljana. Full loop with Monticello is 25 km with about 1500 m ascent. For it first follow trail 421 to Monticello, head back quite a bit from the summit (Tabacco 019 map has it wrongly drawn), continue on 421 to La Forca saddle. There switch right to trail 420 to Morolds village, from there 418 to Moggessa di La then across gorge to di Qua. Continue on same 418 back to Moggio. Can just visit the villages. Then from Moggio follow only 418 and km and ascent nearly half as much as full loop. Trails well marked, best time early spring or late autumn.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Morning in the Carnic Alps

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times This path leads from Moggia

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times First markings

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times The entire path is very pleasant and gentle

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Many religious landmarks around here

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Snapshot

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Shelter reclaimed by time

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Monte Pisimoni in the background

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Up here we go

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Early April and snow starts around 1200 m

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Just below the summit there is a cavern

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Obligatory relic in Italian mountains

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Exploring the cavern

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times View out

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Monte Monticello

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Group photo

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Saddle La Forca

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times We continue along this path

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Everything full of crocuses

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Look a bit closer ... such markings are rare :)

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times First village Morolds

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Everything is antique, original

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times It was built with whatever was at hand

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Village Morolds

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times There are plenty of streams all around there

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Hydraulic wheel in the gorge. It's loud, but it provides water to those few houses above it

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Waterfall above the path

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Moggessa di La ... first houses, unfortunately destroyed in the earthquake

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Some houses remained untouched, others were renovated by weekenders

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Remnants of better times

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times This is a beautiful, pleasant village

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times This house is renovated. These were huge structures.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Narrow streets between the houses

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Most houses are abandoned to the tooth of time

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Houses have wooden, roughly processed balconies

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times The tooth of time is merciless

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times The 1976 earthquake took its toll

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times The village is not extinct, tiny details indicate that

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Impressive buildings. What did they live on?

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Some are returning and trying to breathe life into the village.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Wooden balconies.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Unfortunately, the earthquake completely destroyed the once mighty building here

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Beautiful in spring in this village

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times There are some wells with running water throughout the village, and they have also provided electricity for them

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Streets of Moggessa di La

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times This was a large village

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Ruins

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Some corners are extremely pleasant

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Glimpse

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times In these alleys there was space only for people and animals

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Earthquake 1976

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Pleasant corner

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Spring

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times In this direction, one goes to Moggessa di Qua

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Mighty homestead

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Among the hills

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times On the way to Moggessa di Qua

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times This village is even more destroyed than the previous one

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Life is returning despite everything

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Caring hands have provided homeliness even in the ruins

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Fellow traveler

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times This is how it used to be.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Village Moggessa di Qua.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Ruins after the 1976 earthquake.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Remains of the once mighty village.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times At the exit from the village.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Last ruins.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times These paths are ancient. This marker is from the 18th century, the paths are much older.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times At the saddle.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Moggio is already visible in the distance.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times At the entrance to the townlet.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Members of the small farm at the entrance to Moggio.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Sleepy townlet Moggio.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times GPS track of the hiked path.

Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times Tabacco map 018 edition 2003. The path to Monticello is not correctly drawn here.

(+3)

IgorZlodej5. 04. 2016 21:29:10

Tabacco 018 will be the right map.

(+1)

bagi5. 04. 2016 21:47:00

That's right. The picture shows Tabacco 018 map, edition 2003. On this version the path is quite wrongly drawn. Later editions have it changed, but still not accurate.

brajdo7. 10. 2016 09:35:36

These paths also feature one of the nicest MTB tours nasmeh

Il Troi dai Borgs

palček plezalček10. 02. 2022 12:13:59

It's nice there, the surrounding peaks are oh so inviting.

(+2)

palček plezalček3. 09. 2024 15:55:38

ločanka17. 05. 2025 22:21:13

We went to Monticello yesterday, maybe a bit later in the year than usual for visiting this peak. But we had lots of young greenery along the path and mostly walked on beautiful trails amid freshly greened grass, even saw a marmot right on the trail.
Did a loop tour, sort of figure-eight shape. From start headed to trail 421, midway climbed also to top of Crete de la Mont ridge, which offers great view of Bela river valley, also towards Resia, and on Pisimona, Čuk, impressive Masareit, other side San Simeone and of course Monticello we were heading to. Worth climbing this peak, sign on tree by trail points it out. Below summit headed to ridge trail, decorated this time with newly leafed birches, returned via old military mule track and at trail junction straight on path to La Forcia saddle, there shortest trail 420 to start.
In village marveled at Mediterranean climate influence, saw tall palms and banana plants growing in yards in front of houses. Above houses edges of some peaks we saw from summit too. Very nice sight of Pisimonja rising like a backdrop behind village.

Still paths we've been thinking of in these parts, but about those next time nasmeh

on the drive towards the village Mužac, Monticello visible in the middle

view of the river Bela at the bridge crossing

in the middle the ridge Crete de la Mont

young greenery characteristic of this time

really beautiful paths along the entire trail

from the ridge a view of San Simeone and the confluence of Bela and Tilmenta

Sernio and Grauzaria, a constant feature in the view towards the peak

in the background M.Vualt, M.Chivals, Zuc dal Bor

at the Forca di Monticello saddle, junction of four paths

here even more so, bridge over Rio Travasans

with a view to M.Pisimoni in the background

one part of our route, missing the conclusion along path 420 to the start

on the way also to the Mangart Lakes with a view of Mangart

(+7)

bagi5. 12. 2025 06:43:51

To Monticello we went to check winter conditions around here, plus hadn't been in ages. After mandatory morning coffee in Trbiž followed some drive on old road to Zgornji Mužac aka Moggio di Sopra on maps. Parked by church and set off in morning frost. Parking free, like almost all on this side of border.

Walked opposite usual direction, this time morning start on trail 418. It took us to villages Mogessa di Qua and Moggessa di La, wrecked by quake in 70s. General impression somewhat preserved houses slowly renovating bit by bit, much for sale too. Di Qua has bad luck no access road, while di La has one even suitable for slightly higher cars.

Along that road we headed to saddle where hamlet Borgo di Mezzo stands. Due to lots of water no desire for lower marked trail 418. Even across road many streamlets running. So went good three km to turnaround point. Among houses Borgo di Mezzo had to find marks 420 to Mužac and later branch to Monticello. On ascent to it snow base showed quick but didn't hinder to summit.

Return on 421, which brought us to branch for Mont di Muec. Lower peak with great view, plus right by trail. Whoever walks around here should visit it nasmeh

. Nice trail 421 brought us to valley and only return to start left.

Start coords (Moggio di Sopra): 46.4050600N, 13.1874689E

We park in Moggio di Sopra. Plenty of space, free of course.

This time we take the reverse path than usual and will first visit both Moggessas.

Frosty, hoarfrost thickly covers the meadows.

The first three lines on the sign are our today's goal, the last we haven't hiked from this direction yet.

End of the road and start of ascent to the saddle Forca di Moggessa.

View back to the valley from which we come.

On the saddle the first sun catches us, but it will quickly depart again for a while.

We descend the shady side. Along the path there are some old markers from before 1900.

Path 418. Attractive access to the villages used by villagers since time immemorial.

Here little is renovated. The village has no vehicular access for material transport.

Signpost to the next village, Moggessa di La

The trail remains gentle and comfortable further on as well

Without the bridge, the crossing would be quite interesting :)

Moggessa di La. You can drive here from Grauzaria

Correspondingly, more renovated buildings are visible than in Moggessa di Qua

On our first visit everything here was still abandoned

Much is new, but the general impression of the ruined village remains

We leave the village and set off along the access road towards the hamlet of Borgo di Mezzo

It's still a long way there, meanwhile we cross numerous streams. The slope above us is extremely watery

There are also some old buildings here, but nothing is dilapidated

We continue partly on gravel road, partly on concrete base

Towards the pass it blows furiously, so the only spot for a snack is by the chapel walls

Just after the bend Borgo di Mezzo appears. Between the houses we will reverse the direction of travel

There is still life here. Solar cells and satellites are almost on every house

Now we follow 420, but before that we turn off to Monticello

We are walking in the shade and cool again

We were already wondering at what altitude we would encounter snow :)

View of Morolz, which is already far below

Right towards the top there is more snow, but walking is still comfortable and reliable

He, he … somewhere the cyclist towards Tolmezzo was missing

From Monticella we return along the same path all the way to the intersection

This worried me. The steep 421 is in places so exposed that too much snow would hinder the descent, if not even prevent it

But no problem, so we continue. Quickly we are at the junction for another peak, this time the panoramic Mont di Muec

Already the approach has something to show

From here there is a beautiful view of Mužac, as well as numerous snow-covered peaks above us

The cross is completely new and decorated with Christmas lights

Snow-covered Monte Pisimoni, the little giant

GPS track. It accumulated 24 km and 1500 elevation meters

(+9)

2061alessio5. 12. 2025 09:19:32

Thanks to you two (as always), pic 1: the car plate needs to be changed and some "000" added so it'll be kr-km10.000 (on foot) nasmeh

, pic 17: my vašcan-vaš♪an is fixing that object because he was born there and went to school between the years 60-70, pic 30: there last century they had a cheese store because they brought it down from the pasture casera Cimadors, I greet you in the Friulian way, mandi. mežikanje

(+9)

bagi5. 12. 2025 11:58:14

Hehe, Alessio, good eye velik nasmeh

. On KR-KM already run out of plate space for our hiking zeros so need new car or plates nasmeh

. But I'm always interested in the history of places we walk through, so thanks for the info. Old villages have special charm.

(+4)

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Monte Monticello and Moggessa, two villages from bygone times