Cristoforo Munari, Still life with lemons, almond and musical score in tempo di minuetto, , Municipal Picture Gallery 1 Sibln Mo untais Sibillini Mountains

The Sibillini Mountains through or lived in this territo- The Land of Parks and Enchantment ry leaving signs of their cultu- Local Tourist System Via Piave 12 re. 62026 MC The many municipalities si- T +39 0733 656890 tuated in the hills and moun- www.sibilliniturismo.it tains are rich with well visible [email protected] and preserved archaeology, Territory and Municipal art and civil and religious ar- Districts chitecture. Belforte del The presence of The Sibillini Mountains National Park is Camporotondo di Fiastrone further proof and guarantee of Castelsantangelo the high standard of environ- San Ginesio sul Nera mental quality of the territory, Ancient pilgrims' hospital where an integrated and rich wild life of floral and faunal Force species can live among the Gualdo unpolluted lakes, rivers and San Ginesio "S.Gentili" peaks. Museum and Montecavallo Picture Gallery Montedinove Many open-air sports are Montefalcone practised not only in the sum- Info Appennino The Land of Parks and 0733 656072 Montefortino Enchantment mer and winter, but also in Montelparo the spring when the countrysi- Montemonaco The Local Tourist System "The de is richened by the wild flo- Sibillini Mountains, The Land wers in full bloom and in au- of Parks and Enchantment", tumn, when the colours unites 36 Municipalities from the Ascoli Piceno and Mace- San Ginesio Sant'Angelo rata Provinces of three Moun- in Pontano tainous Communities (Blue Mountains - Monti Azzurri, Sibillini Mountains - Monti Smerillo Sibillini and ), the Natural Reserves Abbadia di Fiastra and the Torricchio Mountain, and a vast area of the The Sibillini Mountains National Park. This system is set in the heart of the Mar- ches, in the smooth hills that embrace in their splendid na- ture, the history of many peo- ple that have passed Sibillini Mountains Panorama 2 Sibillini Mountains

Other examples of artists of this period can be seen in the Sant'Eustachio church in Bel- forte del Chienti, such as the polyptych by Giovanni Bocca- ti or, to name just a few sculp- Tolentino tural works, the "Madonna Cloister of the dell'Impollata" preserved in S.Nicholas Basilica Cessapalombo, not forgetting History, art, the numerous highly expres- landscape. sive architecturural works such as the main doorway of Art is the witness of the history the Basilica of Saint Nicholas of these places. The numerous in Tolentino, or the antique churches in even the smallest boundary wall of Montemo- centres are caskets that pre- naco or the rustic workman- serve works of art of important ship of the Piazza Alta in authors that have left clear signs Amandola. Works of art and of their passing. There is nu- important authors that testify Tolentino San Nicholas merous evidence of the school how this territory was a place Basilica of Giotto, such as the frescoes of profound and fertile cultu- 0733 976311 in the Chapel of the Basilica of ral and artistic activity, where La Rancia Saint Nicholas in Tolentino, art and faith in God have Castle 0733 973349 which are excellent examples deeply affected the landscape. International both for their narrative intensity In fact there are numerous ab- Caricature Museum and figurative quality. Of no beys and convents spread over 0733 969797 less interest is the conservative the hills and valleys, like the Abbey in cycle in the church of San Fran- Colfano close Camporotondo Chiaravalle di Fiastra cis in San Ginesio and in Serra- where, according to tradition, 0733 202942 petrona. Carlo and Vittore Cri- velli, two illustrious 5th century venetian artists, both worked here as well as in the and Ascoli regions. The sump- tuous altar of the San Martino church in Monte San Martino has been attributed to both of Monte these authors. The magnificent San Martino Saint Martin's "Virgin Mary adoring her baby church with angel musicians" pre- Cessapalombo Polyptych served in Sarnano is the work of S.Salvatore by the Crivelli brothers Abbey Crypt 0733 660107 Vittore Crivelli. Info 0733 907132 3 Sibillini Mountains

Camporotondo Colfano Convent

Saint Francis founded a hermi- July and August. A reminder of tage during one of his jour- bygone times, of the human neys in the Marca; the Saint and historic events of these Liberato convent , near San places through the centuries, Ginesio, the agostinian one in are brought to life again in Tolentino, the Soffiano mon- certain periods of the year by astery in Sarnano and also the means of the organization of Tolentino Macchie Abbey in Ripe San historic manifestations with Cloister Ginesio with its awesome, tournaments, jousting and of Fiastra Abbey gloomy crypt, created around parades in clothes of the peri- the year 1000. Also worth a od. This happens in August, particular mention for the im- when flag wavers and proces- pressive and important archi- sions of wonderful costumes tecture, are the Chiaravalle di bring the San Ginesio Palio to Fiastra Abbey in Tolentino and life, in a ring race, in which Sarnano the Macereto Sanctuary in Vis- the skilful horse riders are en- Saint Mary's Church so, founded by the circensian gaged in a competition that monks in the XII century, situ- requires strength, passion and ated in the magnificent Natu- training. Another time is Sarnano ral Reserve of Fiastra Abbey. when an event is remem- Picture Gallery and Collection Not far away there is the Urbs bered like the Return of the of Birdlife, Salvia Archaeologic Park, the Exiles, those 300 habitants of Arms and Hammers most important and spectacu- San Ginesio that where expel- Info lar in the , that pre- led in the XV century, because 0733 659923 Urbisaglia Archaeologic serves the typical monuments they were suspected of want- Park of the Roman city: the theatre, ing to yield the town to the State Archaeologic constructed in bricks during Varanoes of Camerino. Museum the years before 23 AD, the Medieval fascinating sacred area, made Fortress up of a smaller temple and a Info 0733 506566 large Temple with cryptoporti- cus painted with frescos, the impressive boundary wall and amphitheatre, that hosts the magnificent Antique Theatre Season during the months of San Ginesio Agostano Palio 4 Sibillini Mountains

The Serafino palio in Sarnano Spread over numerous hills, takes its name from the six meadows and peaks with the winged angel in the municipal presence of lakes and quiet coat of arms: the tug of war, streams, that enable several the jug race, the pole climb sports and relaxing excursions and the tree felling contest, to be carried out. The wide are the games that remember spaces also evoke antique leg- the tiring work of past times. ends like the Sibilla Cavern, Also in Caldarola colours and from which the entire moun- sounds play a big part in “la tain range gets its name, or the Giostra de le Castella” - the Frier's Cave with its antique Tournament of The Castles - little church and The Gorges of Caldarola while in the nearby town of Fiastrone with their Karst con- Pallotta Castle Tolentino , every year on the formation, that create striking Tolentino 0733 905242 first Sunday of May, the events and spectacular natural envir- Historic Picture Gallery Commemoration of the of what is considered to be onments to cover on foot. "The Battle of Resistance The Rancia" Movement the first battle of the Risorgi- Apart from trekking it is possi- Pieve Favera mento are repeated: The Bat- ble to visit these places on a Antiquarium tle of The Rancia. Mock sol- mountain bike, thanks to the Info 0733 905808 diers simulate the phases of numerous cartways and horse the 1815 battle in the natural tracks that have been made scenery of the Castle. The na- into routes where it is possible ture and beauty of the land- to stop for refreshments and scape are also an important meals in the several agritour- enchantment of this territory. isms, enabling local food and First and foremost is the Sibil- wines to be tasted: truffles, lini National Park which cov- mushrooms, cheese , cold ers around 170.000 acres of meats and salami (particularly territory, really appealing to "ciauscolo") or enjoy the tradi- Fiastrone tourists and day trippers that tional first courses: tagliatelle, The Gorges want close contact with nature. vincisgrassi, cappelletti… of Fiastrone Sibillini Mountains Trekking

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Between nature and culture The territory is characterized by the charm of the landscape, with its unlimited extension of hills that, in harmonic se- quence, connect the precipi- ces of the apennine chain of mountains. A warm hearted region that shows evident proof of an antique civiliza- tion and religious activity of its Sarnano inhabitants, in which fortified Flying School towns and cities have grown and, even today, show their Horse Riding enthusiasts will impressive boundary walls. Tolentino find several riding schools In our times, in which defense S.Lucia Thermal Spa available, and above all the counts less, they have become extent of the hills and moun- splendid panoramic balwarks, tains where it is possible to "balcony towns" and "towns of ride freely. For water sport viewpoint", stretched above lovers rowing can be carried the lower valleys, in a natural out in Lake Caccamo, a place scenary of incomparable where important national and beauty. They are made to international competitions are measure centres that show held. For those who want to signs of thousands of years of Sarnano S.Giacomo try free flight, the "Sibillini Fly- history and were present in Thermal Spa ing School" in Sarnano holds antique civilization. Agricultu- qualified courses for delta- ral and summer holiday places plane and paragliding. scattered with country houses, Apart from the beauty of the that with their cultivated landscape and the infinite ob- fields, embroidered with jects of art, this territory can vineyards and olive trees pre- also boast the presence of two serving a tradition that exists important localities with ther- in time. mal spas that are open all year round: Sarnano and Tolentino, Sibillini Corn Field renouned for the quality of the water, the equipment and the highly qualified personnel.

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Montecavallo Panorama This panorama of culture and Church with its beautiful clois- nature winds in an ideal itiner- ter and the frescoes of the um- Amandola Saints Ruffino ary, through places like San Gi- brian-marches school. Acting and Vitale Abbey nesio, one of the most beautiful as a wing to the range of the 0736 840706 medieval villages in , Pet- Sibillini Mountains is the high- Montefortino riolo, Urbisaglia, Colmurano, est town in the Marches: Bolog- F.Duranti Civil Picture Gualdo, Penna San Giovanni, nola, 3510 feet above sea level, Gallery 0737 859101 Sant'Angelo in Pontano, Ripe in beautiful natural surround- San Ginesio, which with their ings. Together with Acquacani- churches and parishes marked na it is one of the starting points the antique routes of the pil- for many excursions. The muni- grims, antique routes of com- cipality of Fiastra with the water munication but also meetings of the lake of the same name, of different mentalities and cul- perfectly integrated in this natu- ture that led to the birth of rela- ral environment, is an oasis dis- tionships and economic, cultu- tinguished by its high quality of ral and artistic exchanges. life, a calm and quiet place, a Relationships that have left an reality to discover and fully ex- Petriolo indelible stamp in the spirit of perience. Historic Centre Amandola the inhabitants of this Marches The surrounding towns richen Panorama region. the history of this territory: The itinerary proceeds to Sarna- Pievebogliana, Muccia, no, thermal spa summer holi- Montecavallo, Fiordimonte, day and winter sport centre, Serravalle del Chienti, with its splendid medieval ur- Pievetorina with its roman ban structure. A short distance parish of Saint Maria Assunta away is Montefortino, with the and the "Museum of Our land", “Fortunato Duranti” Picture a rich collection of agricultural Gallery and Amandola, with its and pastoral machinery, rustic Montefortino monuments and its precious artisan works and object of Panorama works of art, like S.Agostine's bygone days.

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On the ascoli side there is Force, the town of the “battirame", where the calderari communica- ted between themselves with a slang that had its origins from a mixture of dialects of various re- gions and was incomprehensible to strangers. In the close vicinity, Montefalcone Appennino Montelparo, where the most typ- P. Alemanno Visso ical traditional cooking of the ru- Museum Historic Centre Info ral life, such as polenta on the 0734 79111 On the bottom of the valley of pastry board is made. Montedi- the high part of the Nera river, nove, located in a magnificent Montelparo Museum of Visso preserves its urban medi- natural landscape, Montefalcone sacred articles eval structure almost intact, Appennino, perched on the crest 0734 780141 with narrow roads, well pre- of a precipice of the Aso valley, served buildings and churches , Smerillo, a beautiful casket of S.Eustachio angles and highly suggestive Church 0733 951010 glimpses. Along the road to Serrapetrona Rome it is possible to admire Old Mill the spectacle of the plunging National Museum of Valnerina gorge. But it is by fol- Contemporary lowing the River Nera that a Sacred Art 0733 908321 natural amphitheatre of excep- Ripe S.Ginesio tional scenic value is reached, Contemporary at the foot of Mount Bove, Picture Gallery where the town of Ussita is to 0733 500102 Castelsantangelo Pievetorina found in the centre and not too historic and natural attractions Historic Centre Museum of far away, Castelsantangelo on like the "Fesa", a deep rift in the our Land 0737 518032 the Nera, a pretty medieval rock where outstanding fossil re- town. mains can be found.

Montefalcone Smerillo Panorama Ruins 8 Sibillini Mountains

The Sibillini National Park The legends The summits of these mountains have always been surrounded in Park Houses Amandola mystery. Proof of this can be T 0736 848598 found in the names of several pla- Sibillini Mountains Fiastra ces that recall mythical, fairy-tale Lake Pilato T 0737 52598 like, infernal and mystic charac- The imaginative tales have fascin- San Ginesio T 0733 694419 ters or places: Passo Cattivo (Bad ated a lot of Italian and foreign Visso Passage), Pizzo del Diavolo (Dev- writers, among these Andrea da T 0737 968026 il's Point), Scoglio del Miracolo Barberino, who wrote the "Guerin (Miracle Rock), Cima del Reden- Meschino", and the frenchman tore (Laughing Summit), Grotta Antoine De La Sale writer of delle Fate (Fairies' Cave), Gola "Paradis de la Reine Sibjlle". Fur- dell'Infernaccio (Hell's Gorge), thermore Mount Sibilla is indica- Pizzo Regina (Queen's Point), ted as the "Venusberg", the moun- Lago di Pilato, Monte Sibilla tain associated with the myth of (Mount Sybil), strada delle Fate Tannhauser. The Lake of Pilato, a (Fairies' Road), Fonte del Guerin picturesque lake basin of ice age Meschino, Poggio Paradiso (Para- origin, 6365 feet high in the mid- dise Hillock), Ara della Regina dle of a deep morainic valley un- (Queen's Altar), Valle Santa (Holy der the summit of Mount Vettore Valley). A vast medieval litera- (8125 feet), is the theatre of an- Macereto ture, based on popular traditions, other legend, told by Antoine De Sanctuary indicates Mount Sibilla as the La Sale, according to whom, after premises of the sumptuous resi- pronunciation of the death sen- dence of Sibilla Alcina. tence by imperator Tito Vespasia- no, the body of Pontius Pilat was put on a wagon pulled by buffalos that, once at the layers of Mount Vettore, they climbed up the steep butresses and then dived into the icey water of the lake, pulling the body down to the bot- tom. This could be the reason the banks of this lake were often vis- ited by witches, necromancers, and misterious persons associated Monti Azzurri with occult arts, among these the (Blue Mountains) well known Cecco d'Ascoli. Panorama

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The environment

The entire mountain range, made Sibillini Mountains up mostly of calcareas Lias, Giura National Park and Cretaceo rock types , distin- Wolves guishes itself by the presence of At high levels, sea crows and cor- narrow and deep valleys that, in allini , elegant black feathered some stretches, are transformed birds live, making their nests in into narrow holes in which the si- cavities of the rocky faces of the lence is broken only by the deaf- mountains. Among the birds of ening flow of the torrents. prey to be found other than the Among the gorges most represen- golden eagle, are the pellegrine Comunanza tative are those of the Ambro, the falcon and the rare eagle owl. Lake Gerosa Infernaccio and the Fiastrone, to- More frequent are the kestrels, the gether with a series of peaks one buzzards, the barn owls, the owls, after the other, the major part of owlets. Along the rivers and the which exceed 6500 feet in torrents where the trouts and height. The uneven physiognomy crayfish live, the water-carrying of some of the massifs, with high blackbird can be seen to fly. It's rocky faces with vertical tenden- not rare to see squirrels, dormice, cy, rocks, spires, calcareous pin- oak mice, and locate their round nacles and precipices has de- nests. Beech-martens, badgers, signed suggestive cirques. porcupines and wild cats, that had almost disappeared at the be- ginning of the second half of the The fauna last century, have recovered over the last fifteen years and are now The presence of mythicized ani- common. Apart from lizards, Sibillini mals , such as the eagle and the green lizards and snakes, there is Cesena Thrush wolf, make the fauna of the Sibil- also the common viper and the lini Mountains extraordinarily in- rare Orsini viper, that lives in very teresting. Deers and bears also few places of the central appe- lived in the woods and forests nines, at about 6500 feet: it is the that covered these mountains in smallest european viper and the Sibillini Butterfly the past and in the high level most harmless. The most impor- meadows of the summits, appe- tant particularity is a crostaceo, nine chamois could be found. not present in any other place, Today, in the high meadows, Ap- that lives in Lake Pilato: the chiro- penine Greek partridges, found in cefalo del Marchesoni, five feet only a few other places, have sur- long, diaphanous and of orange vived. colour.

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while in several protected and sunny areas holm oaks can be found. On the highest and most inaccessible peaks some floristic species of notable naturalitic and scientific interest grow, like the nigritella dell'Appennino - a pink Sibillini orchid, the edraianto and the Flowers edelweiss. in Bloom Furthermore splendid examples The plant life of floristic varieties are present in the Natural Reserve of the Torric- The mountainous relief that wrin- chio Mountain and in the Natural kles this suggestive angle of Italy Reserve of Abbazia di Fiastra, offers a wonderful alpine scenery that preserves several hundreds and a vegetable landscape that of acres of uncontaminated Sibillini comprises almost all the endem- woods. Flowers ic vegetation of the apennines. Sibillini Beech is one of the most widely The rivers and valleys Edelweiss spread arboreous species: it grows between 3200 and 5900 The streams of water that furrow feet above sea level frequently through the territory originate in creating forests with wonderful the mountains. The River Tenna centuries old examples. originates from the eastern side Particularly striking beech forests of Mount Bove and runs through are those of the Valle dell'Ambro, the Pizzo della Regina and of the Valle del Tenna (San Leo- Mount Sibilla. Lower down it be- nardo) and of the Val d'Aso (le comes turbulent, the valley be- Svolte and the woods of the Fron- comes narrower and assumes the dosa). Lower down, thick copses aspect of a narrow crack, a nar- of black hornbeam, manna-ash row gorge dug out by the river and Pubescent Oak develop, over thousands of years. Mount Vettore Panorama

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The wild gorge of the Infernaccio, is an environment of awful beauty enclosed between plunging rock faces. After overcoming the Infer- naccio the valley widens and the River Tenna receives, from the left, the water of the Ambro torrent, that comes from the other side of the Pizzo Regina (Queen's Point), the second highest peak in the Monti azzuri (Blue Mountains) Sibillini range (7650 feet). Further Mountain ahead the Tenna touches on the Scenery hillocks on which Montefortino The Fluvione torrent springs from and Amandola stand, passes the the steep eastern face of the mas- Abbazia dei SS. Ruffino and Vi- sif of the Vettore, then flows tale, under the cliff of Smerillo through Montegallo, carves a and continues its course towards deep valley covered in woods the foce. The Aso gushes from a and, before Roccafluvione, bends pool near Foce di Montemonaco to the south towards the River at 3100 feet, at the foot of Mount Tronto, into which it merges. Vettore, in a valley modelled by The valleys of Nera, of the Fias- Karst phenomena, then proceeds trone, of the Chienti and of the furrowing a valley covered in Fiastra, fervent with agricultural Tenna valley Infernaccio orchards. Close to the Ascension activity and rich with production gorge Mountain a torrent is formed, not sites, have for centuries represen- too extensive but of extreme im- ted privileged routes of commu- portance to the landscape for the nication with the main consular lined harshness of the ravines. arteries.

High plains of Castelluccio Panorama

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Amandola Sarnano International Theatre Historic Procession Festival “Terra delle Sibille” august august info 0733 657144 info 0736 840704 “Diamanti a Tavola” Palio del Serafino Exhibition / Market of the tartufo august october/november info 0733 657144 info 0736 848706 Serrapetrona Bolognola Sagra della Vernaccia A Musical Day in the Name august of Filippo Marchetti info 0733 908321 august info 0737 520265 Tolentino Tolentino Humour Caldarola september IAT Centres Giostra de Le Castella info 0733 969797 Abbadia (Tournament of the Castles) di Fiastra august Urbisaglia T 0733 202942 F 0733 305042 info 0733 905529 Antique Theatre Season Amandola International Canoa-Kayak Roman Amphitheatre T 0736 848706 Regatta july/august F 0736 848706 basin of Lake Caccamo info 0733 506566 Sarnano september Massimo Urbani National award T 0733 657144 info 0733 905529 Abbadia di Fiastra F 0733 657343 september Tolentino Mountain Community of info 0733 506602 T 0733 972937 San Ginesio Muccia Local Tourist Literary Festival Visso Office “Tra...monti e pagine” Torneo delle Guaite T 0737 647184 july/august july/august info 0733 656890 info 0737 95421

Loro Piceno Sagra del Vino Cotto august info 0733 509112

Montelparo Folklore in the World and its Gastronomy august info 0734 780099

San Ginesio "Battle of the Fornarina" july Palio "Giostra dell'Anello" august info 0733 656072

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