Day 1 DINNER AND OVERNIGHT STAY AT ACCOMMODATION FACILITY IN URBINO, TOURIST GUIDE, TASTING, TRANSFER
Late morning arrival in Urbino and guide meet-up for trip presentation.
Lunch at your leisure and guided tour of Urbino’s old town (Unesco World Heritage Site) in the afternoon.
Urbino actually embodies Marche’s highest architectural expression during Renaissance, when the Dukes of Montefeltro made it one of the most prominent artistic, cultural and military strongholds of Italy. With its renowned façade and the National Gallery within, the Ducal Palace is one of the symbols of art and culture in this region. Urbino is also Raffaello Sanzio’s birthplace and the artist's presence still lives on in many places you will come across during the visit.
At the end of the tour, tasting of typical local products.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2 TRANSFER, TASTING AT RIFUGIO DEI SAPORI / CARPEGNA PARK, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT STAY AT THE URBINO ACCOMMODATION FACILITY
Breakfast and transfer to Carpegna, a precious village on the slopes of the namesake mountain in the heart of Montefeltro.
Here starts the hike to the spellbinding Sasso Simone and Sasso Simoncello, two limestone blocks resting on clay hills. Like American mesas reminding of a (small-sized) Monument Valley, the two boulders overlook one of the largest Turkey oak woods in Italy. You are in for a pleasant walk in the shade of Turkey oak but also beech, manna ash, several types of maple and oak trees with a panoramic vista on the Montefeltro area. Packed lunch on the top of Sasso Simone where you can take a look at the ruins of an ancient city - or rather the attempt at one - by the Medici family of Florence, who tried to build the City of the Sun in order to dominate and rule these lands.
At the end of the hike, snack time with some local products and the unique PDO prosciutto di Carpegna. Return trip to Urbino. Leisure time, dinner and overnight stay.
Trail overview
Length: 12 km
Height gain: + 400 m, - 400 m
Difficulty: easy
Day 3 TRANSFER, FRASASSI CAVES, ACCOMMODATION FACILITY FOR DINNER AND OVERNIGHT STAY IN SIROLO / NUMANA / ANCONA
Breakfast and transfer to Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Natural Park, the second largest protected area of this region.
Loop trail hike in Valle Scappuccia, a charming place which is home to a great wealth of flora, fauna and some amazing geological and anthropological wonders! As the trail goes up and down among beech woods, Mediterranean scrub and softwood, you could come across some wolf tracks and see the flight of the peregrine falcon. Packed lunch.
In the early afternoon we are moving to the hamlet of San Vittore alle Chiuse to visit the famous Frasassi Caves, the grand underground ecosystem resulting from the patient, ceaseless work of the Sentino river, some sulphur springs and limestone, the rock of which most Marche mountains are made.
Coastal transfer to the Monte Conero area, dinner and overnight stay in accommodation facility.
Trail overview
Length: 9 km
Height gain: + 300 m, - 300 m
Difficulty: medium/easy
Day 4 TRANSFER, KAYAK RIDE, WINERY
Breakfast and transfer to Monte Conero, the true soul of the namesake Natural Park established in 1987 - hence the region’s oldest.
Hike along a downhill trail soaked in Mediterranean scrub, among breath-taking views and sea cliffs. From the ancient Saint Peter church we go down to the beach of San Michele passing through the awesome Passo del Lupo (Wolf’s Pass): it all adds up to an unforgettable hike with a wonderful vista!
From San Michele you can grab a kayak and reach Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle ranking as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Italy: getting by sea on this beach crammed with thousands of legends and myths is a real blast (who doesn’t want to go kayaking can wait on the beach). Packed lunch, return trip to San Michele by kayak and then back to the hotel.
Late afternoon winery visit for apericena (aperitif-dinner) with wine tasting (first and foremost Rosso Conero, a renowned local red wine).
Return to accommodation facility for overnight stay.
Trail overview
Length: 9 km
Height gain: + 200 m, - 500 m
Difficulty: medium/easy
Day 5 TRANSFER, DINNER, ACCOMMODATION FACILITY IN SAN GINESIO, OVERNIGHT STAY
Breakfast and transfer to Piani di Ragnolo (Ragnolo Plains), the first leg of the Sibillini National Park tour.
The trail unfolds along a plateau at 1,500 m above sea level from which you will be struck by magnificent sights of the northern sector of the Park, the Marche’s hilltops and the Adriatic Sea. Packed lunch and transfer to Fiastra and the namesake lake for a pleasant stroll along its banks and some relax on the beach. Transfer to accommodation facility in San Ginesio. The day ends with a visit to the San Ginesio hamlet, a small treasure chest of beauties with its undamaged medieval walls, alleys, the gorgeous Collegiate Church and a unique view on the Sibillini mountain range.
Dinner and return trip to the hotel with overnight stay in Fiastra.
Trail overview
Lenght: 5 km approx.
Overall height difference (elevation): 250 m
Overall height difference (drop): 100 m
Difficulty: easy
Day 6 TRANSFER, BOBBIN LACE SHOWCASE, APERITIF-DINNER AT THE WINERY, ACCOMMODATION FACILITY IN ASCOLI OVERNIGHT STAY
Breakfast and transfer to Montefortino where the Sibillini National Park adventure goes on through one of its most popular and exciting hikes.
The path unfolds in the upper valley of the Tenna river, nestled between the steep walls of Monte Priora (2,332 m) and the iconic Monte Sibilla (2,173 m); after a few minutes’ walk the trail crosses the river and dives into the magnificent Gola dell’Infernaccio (Hell’s Gorge), a narrow canyon digging through imposing walls of massive limestone. Out of the gorge, the path winds through centuries-old beech woods up to the small and lonely San Leonardo Hermitage. Packed lunch and return by the same path. Now it’s time to move to the other highlight of the day: the Offida hamlet, hosting one of the two main regional wineries - a witness to the importance of wine in this land - and boasting little architectural treats such as the amazing Santa Maria della Rocca where the ancient ways still live.
Aperitif-dinner at the winery and bobbin lace showcase. Transfer to Ascoli Piceno and overnight stay.
Trail overview
Lenght: 7 km approx.
Overall height difference (elevation):: 300 m
Overall height difference (drop):: 300 m
Difficulty: medium/easy
Day 7 TRANSFER, LIGHT LUNCH IN CASTELLUCCIO, DINNER IN ASCOLI
Breakfast and transfer to Castelluccio di Norcia for the final leg of the Sibillini National Park tour.
Located in the south-western sector of the range, this village overlooks 3 large tectonic floors at about 1,400 m above sea level, thus skirting the highest part of the Sibillini Mountains. In this spellbinding place, when the cultivated plains are ablaze with yellow, red and blue between late spring and early summer, the stunning colour show of the Castelluccio flowering comes to life. At the end of a no-sweat trail, after a light lunch with local food in the heart of the small hamlet , it’s time to go back to Ascoli Piceno on a guided tour to the many wonders of the "Travertine Gem".
Leisure time and a must-try final dinner in the old town with the renowned Ascolana olives.
Return to accommodation facility for overnight stay.
Trail overview
Lenght: 6 km approx.
Overall height difference (elevation):: 200 m
Overall height difference (drop):: 200 m
Difficulty: easy
Day 8
Depending on the schedule, greetings with the locals and end of the trip.
