Diverticulum ab Helvillo Anconam (Route No. 7: “On the track of the ancient Romans”)
Characterisitcs
Distance: 2.8km
Max difference in altitude: 210m
Time: 3 hours (including a few stops)
Level: Recreational
Presence of water: No
Walking on the Diverticulum (Passage) means not only immerse yourself in nature but also capture the essence of travelling on the same paths once walked by the ancient Romans. The route starts through a mesophile forest characterized by the presence of hornbeam and manna associated with maple and oak in the canopy, while in the undergrowth you can see dogwood, blackthorn, hawthorn, privet and some species of butcher’s broom and daphne. This forest covers the cooler slopes of the Aceto Valley below, crossed by the ancient diverticulum branching off from Flaminia Road. The latter, created as a military road, was built around 220 BC by Consul Gaius Flaminius to connect Rome and Rimini through Nocera, Fossato and Fano. Its construction required huge efforts due to the nature of the mountain terrain, characterized by landslides and plenty of water; given its importance, all these obstacles were eventually overcome with the use of additional structures, supporting walls, bridges and viaducts, all works in which Romans excelled; such structures are still in place on this ancient consular road, like St. Joseph’s Bridge, near the graveyard of Fossato di Vico. This is exactly where the Diverticulum ad Helvillo-Anconam started, in the vicinity of the ancient village of Hevillum (now Fossato di Vico), a place already mentioned and known in ancient times by virtue of its central location along the route. Besides its historical importance, this itinerary is particularly attracting from a naturalistic point of view. In Springtime, the first section is bordered with liverworts (Hepatica nobilis), squill (Scilla bifolia), anemones, primroses and violets giving birth to spectacular splashes of colors, while in the tree layer the dogwood shows the typical yellow flowers that precede all the other trees. After about 1.5 km, the forest gives way to secondary pastures (i.e. obtained through the work of men), where a wetland located right before the Sasso della Rocca is of particular interest. Here, the Diverticulum continues through xeric grasslands towards the pass of Chiaromonte, to Sassoferrato, but our route diverts to the pass of Fossato, continuing along trail No. 9; here you can see wonderful blooming meadows especially during the Spring, when prime roses, forget-me-nots, violets, buttercups, anemones and numerous orchids form a beautiful natural patchwork in a variety of colors. Make a stop on the low peak at 832m to take in the lovely view before going down the pass. Here its dominant position on surroundings allows admiring a wide range landscape from the Apennines on the Marche side to the several villages on the foothills below.
From here, walk down through the meadows to the mouth of the pine forest, which leads to the pass via a short downhill section.