CASTELLUCCIO RIDGES RING THE WONDER

Of Blooming

Km: 34,9

How To Get There

The starting point of this itinerary is Forca di Presta, a mountain pass in the Umbria-Marche’s Apennines, located at an altitude of 1550 metres. The pass is easily reacheable by following the road from SS4 Salaria, at the height of the hamlet of Trisungo, passing by the villages of Borgo, Piedilama and Pretare. After about 6 kilometres, take the crossroad to the left reaching then Forca di Presta pass, with a wonderful view of the Tronto river valley.

Journey time: 4 h cise day to admire this wonderful spectacle. Each year everything is depending on weather conditions of the full season. months are numerous (the plains are nothing more than the bottom of a large basin which has progressively dried up and is partly eaten away by the karstic swallowhole at the beginning of the Mergani ditch). path in order to immerse oneself in its colourful spectacle of lights, colours and scents. at the melting of the snows. in the area, developing at different times. This allows the constantly changing colours of the plots of land. thtaking harmony of colours, with multicoloured stripes ranging from bright green to soft purple.

Forca di Presta in direction of Castelluccio, immediately turn left onto the canal running alongside it towards Pian Piccolo. Be careful, as this is a descent about 2 kilometres long with a considerable gradient. Once reached Pian Piccolo, turn in the direction of a farmhouse following the dirt road on the right, running alongside the asphalt road. Then cross it further on.

When reached the crossroad, take the track to the right, which passes at the foot of Castelluccio and goes around the village at the base of the right side to continue towards Pian Perduto. Cross the tarmac road, passing by to continue along the Val di Cànatra. Follow the track until the Sentiero Italia, which goes back to Castelluccio.

Then take the easy dirt road up towards the cemetery (Sentiero Italia + E1), reaching the foot of Monte Veletta, and continue up then to the paragliding launching point at the base of Poggio di Croce (1614 m), the highest point on the itinerary.

At the crossroads turn left, do not proceed towards Monte delle Rose, but rather go along Sentiero Italia, descending through Montagna Fusconi, Colle Tosto, Monte Vetica and Monte Ventosola, heading to Rifugio Perugia at Forca Canapine.

From here, a pleasant up and down along the GAS (Grande Anello dei Sibillini) connects Forca Canapine to Forca di Presta.

To witness the famous blooming of Castelluccio, it is possible to plan a mountain bike excursion in the period from the end of May to mid-July. During these months, the chromatic monotony of the pastureland on the plateau is broken by a mosaic of colours, with variations of tones ranging from red to yellow ochre.

Buttercups, poppies, daffodils, gentians, asphodels, violets eugeniae, clovers, sorrels, violets.

As you cycle along the path, your eye is continually stimulated by colours.

The Pian Perduto and part of the high and low hills are also sown from year to year, as the snow here generally melts later. The rearea.

It is possible to go horse riding on the plateau, while, for those who love photography, time to visit Pian Grande.

Curiosities

FORCA DI PRESTA, CROSSROADS OF PATHS

Lying in the Sibillini mountains, at the foot of Mount Vettore, Forca di Presta divides the territory of the province of Ascoli Piceno from that of Perugia. It is one of the most characteristic mountain places in the area, as well as one of the access points to the Piani di Castelluccio (Castelluccio Plains). Here, it is possible to closely observe the Arquatan slope of Mount Vettore, which rises almost vertically, and the roughness of its rocky aspect. The locality is crossed by the Cammino nelle Terre Mutate and Sentiero E1 and is the starting point towards Forca Canapine, Mount Vettore and Pilato’s Lake.

ARQUATA DEL TRONTO