Pietra Parcellara, Black serpentine mountain summit in Bobbio, Italy.
Pietra Parcellara is a mountain summit near Bobbio, in the Trebbia Valley of Emilia-Romagna, formed by dark serpentine rock that stands out against the lighter clay hills around it. The summit sits at around 836 meters and is clearly visible from the valley floor below.
The area around the peak was once called Prescigliera and held a monastic fortress during the Lombard period. The site later came under the control of the Abbey of Bobbio, which owned large amounts of land in this part of the valley.
A small oratory at the foot of the peak belongs to the local parish and is still visited by people from nearby villages. Walkers who reach the top find an open view over the Trebbia Valley that has drawn visitors for generations.
Two marked trails lead to the top: one from Brodo includes sections with steel cables, while the other starts from the oratory to the northwest and is more straightforward. Visitors with little hiking experience will find the oratory route the easier option.
The dark rock that forms the peak comes from Earth's mantle and was once part of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which existed around 200 million years ago. It reached the surface when tectonic forces pushed sections of ocean crust up onto the land.
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