Best trekking routes in Marche
Do you feel the lack of our column on the Italian regions in an outdoor key? You’re under the umbrella and you’re wondering “why the hell didn’t I go to the mountains?” Le Marche is for you: a region that will allow you to combine your desire for the outdoors and a few days on the beautiful beaches in the area.
Here are some ideas for your excursions, with which we want to whet your imagination. Naturally we are curious to know what you have done during these months of trekking. So, if you have any proposal or some review of your outdoor adventures, write to us at info@bivo.it. The best will be published and the authors will be rewarded with a free Bivo kit.
The crossing of the Conero
Let’s start with the most classic of excursions in the Conero Natural Park, a protected natural area that extends over Mount Conero, in the province of Ancona. The route we propose is about 11 kilometers long and has a difference in height of 400 meters. The starting point is at Poggio di Ancona while the arrival in Fonte d’Olio, in the middle you will reach the top of Mount Conero. This excursion will allow you to enjoy a fantastic view of the Adriatic and the Marche coasts, being able to observe in particular from the north side the bay of Portonovo, a well-known tourist and seaside resort in the area, and from the south the rocks “Le due sorelle” and the “Passo del Lupo”.
Bosco di Smerillo
In the area of Fermo there is an ancient village called Smerillo surrounded by a protected area for its flora and fauna, unique in the world: the Bosco di Smerillo. In the woods you will have the opportunity to walk immersed in an incredible variety of plants: there are over 500 of them. In the area there are also deer, wild boar, badgers and many really fascinating animal species.
The walk we offer is about 9 kilometers long (4 hours) and is suitable for everyone. It is a ring that from Smerillo will allow you to visit the Fessa, a canyon of landslide origin in the western side of Montefalcone, the forest of Montefalcone and immediately after the famous sandstone wall. From here, through a medieval path you cross the town center and then return to Smerillo.
Parco Rossa Gola
The Frasassi caves are one of the major tourist attractions of the Marche region; these are underground karst caves that are located in the province of Ancona within the Regional Natural Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi. It is a huge complex in which the largest of the cavities, the Abyss of Ancona, is of such dimensions that it could contain the Cathedral of Milan. There are various paths that will allow you to fully appreciate the uniqueness of the stone compositions that nature has given us. The shortest route is the tourist one, lasting about 75 minutes, at the end of which it is possible to continue with the blue route, lasting about two hours, and the red one, which lasts three hours and is the most challenging. The paths are joined by an average temperature of 14 degrees and a very high humidity level; the last two of high difficulty are also characterized by passages in which it is necessary to be secured to a rope and others to be covered by crawling.
Curious? Here is the virtual tour:
http://www.stefanociocchetti.com/Documenti_sito/lavori/Frasassi/Frasassi.html
Gorges of the Furlo
If you are looking for the bio-diversity paradise, the Gola del Furlo State Nature Reserve is the one for you. The route we propose has a total length of about 70 kilometers and can be traveled on foot (in 5 stages) or by mountain bike. The start is set at an altitude of 200 meters and will take you on the Via Flaminia crossing the Furlo Gorge. Afterwards you will pass Calmazzo and, after a few kilometers, you will have the chance to admire the show of the Marmitte dei Giganti, the fantastic compositions of rock sculpted by water. In the following stages this circular route will take you through the centers of Fossombrone, Urbino, Fermignano and Acqualagna before returning to the starting point.
Valsorda
The previous proposal had us overcome the Umbrian border, the Valsorda is set right in the Umbrian-Marche Apennines. This area was famous, at least until some time ago, for its cross-country skiing tracks that included over 20 kilometers of route. In this valley there are almost 300 kilometers of trails for those who love trekking and around 150 for those who prefer mountain biking. We therefore do not feel like choosing one, but we invite you to discover a truly special area in the Apennines that really deserves to be visited.
By nature we are very curious. What did you do during these months of trekking? If you want to tell us about it or if you want to share some reviews of your outdoor adventures, write to us at info@bivo.it. The best will be published and the authors will be rewarded with a free Bivo kit.
