Fossato di Vico

Characteristics
Distance: 8km one way
Difference in altitude: 475m
Time: 5 hours one way (including a few stops)
Level: Expert
Presence of water: No

On the road from Fossato to Fabriano, right after the “Madonnella” tunnel, drive up to the Pass of Fossato. Here you can park your car at the “Il Valico” refuge and start the route that, through the peaks of Mt. Sasso Grande, Mt. Cima Filetta, Mt. Patriozzo, Mt. Testagrossa and Mt. Montarone, will take you all the way to Val di Ranco. Start walking through a black pine forest (Pinus nigra), the result of reforestation. After a short steep stretch, you arrive in an opening surrounded by green meadows; continue until you reach a small peak (832m), from which you can enjoy a nice view: Wide spaces fading out on the horizons and an alternation of low and high peaks. To the west, you can see the vast and tranquil Chiascio Valley bounded by its low and sinuous hills, with the villages of Purello, Sigillo, Scirca and Costacciaro; to the east, the Giano Valley with the Apennines of Marche on the background, dominated by Mt. San Vicino. Leave behind Colle Aiale, Mt. Mutali and Mt. Maggio, while in front of you can see a cluster of peaks of different heights, dominated by the limestone massif of Mt. Cucco. What you see now is just a preview of the vast and enchanting views hikers usually enjoy throughout the route, immersed a landscape where you can grasp the sense of infinite. From here, start descending through meadows dotted by short trees and sections of forest. It is worth mentioning that here, between the regions of Umbria and Marche, according to some historians, is where the old Abbey of St. Mary of the Apennines stood, a sign of the fervent vocation to monasticism of this area (see trail No. 6). The trail continues descending as you enter Marche, walking through grazing meadows and extraordinary patches of flowers, until the Pass of Chiaromonte (910m), a strategic and historical place, a meeting point for peoples from Umbria and Marche as well as the joining point of the ancient Diverticulum ab Helvillo-Anconam (see trail No. 7). From here, start a steep climb up to the Sasso Grande (1030m) on dry fields that are the ideal home of caltrops (Eryngium amethystinum), thistles (Carlina acaulis) and Jasiona montana (Globularia meridionalis). On the western slope of Mt. Della Rocca you can see one of the latest stretches of woods left there. From here onwards, the trail stretches along the ridge of the Apennines at the border between Marche and Umbria to north east, offering wonderful views on both sides.
From the Sasso Grande, continue ascending to Cima Filetta (1120m), then slightly descend, keeping a smooth pace, into the lovely valley interposed between the latter and Mt. Patriozzo (1124m). To the west, below, you can see Sigillo and the peaks of Mt. Le Cese (with a centennial beech and hornbeam forest) and Mt. Nofegge. Continue to Mt. Testagrossa (1175m) and from there to Mt. Montarone (1208m), where the view is ruined by the presence of a radar scope.
Now you have almost reached the point of arrival, walking downhill to the renowned Val di Ranco through meadows and woods; there, you will find accommodation and restaurants.
The whole route is a marvelous natural garden, especially in spring and summertime, where it is not uncommon to spot rare wild flowers rich in colors and perfumes such as the legendary orchids (Dacthyloriza sambucina, Orchis mascula, Orchis simia and others), while the old ancient beech woods slope down and mix with hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus) and oak (Quercus cerris) on the cooler slopes, while smaller oaks (Quercus pubescens) grow on the warm ones. Many areas have been reforested in order to allow for a re-colonization of forests, which were once exploited for agriculture and grazing.