Crinali della Valdaso Cycle Route - Stage 02 - from Montelparo to Montemonaco

Descrizione

We resume the Ciclovia dei Crinali route, continuing to cycle towards the mountains, which are no longer so distant. The first town we reach, after 5 kilometres, is Santa Vittoria in Matenano, historically linked to the feud of the imperial Abbey of Farfa and rich in historical evidence.

After a few ups and downs, the road begins to climb steeply until it reaches the 800 m height of Montefalcone Appennino, scenically built on a sandstone cliff and with splendid views of the valley. The village is watched over by the tower of the ancient castle and is rich in points of interest such as the small but fascinating fossil and mineral museum.

As we leave the village we pass through the ‘foro delle scalelle’, a 47-metre tunnel with few similarities in Italy, dug directly into the rock with hammer and chisel in 1837.

We begin a long descent that takes us to Comunanza, the only historic town in Valdaso built on the valley floor. The town is an important reference point for the upper Aso valley and brings together many services; a medical centre, pharmacies, supermarkets, shops, restaurants and much more. Across the river, on the right bank, is the town's cosy historic core, where the Museum of Sacred Art, part of the Sistine Museums network, stands out.

From the 446 m of Comunanza, the lowest point of the day, we begin to climb again, but still with some ups and downs, until we reach Montefortino. The town, perched on high ground, possesses a significant heritage of cultural assets, including the Pinacoteca Civica (Civic Art Gallery ) housed in the fine and elegant Palazzo Leopardi.

After Montefortino we are left with the final climb that will take us to the 983 metres above sea level of Montemonaco, the day's finishing point and the highest point of the entire Ciclovia. About a couple of kilometres after leaving Montefortino, on our left is the junction for the church of Sant'Angelo in Spino. It is a diversion on a dirt road, suitable for those with good legs or a charged battery (it is about 2 km for 170 m of elevation gain), but the church, isolated on the top of a hill, very ancient and with its unusual structure of opposing apses, is well worth the effort.

The final climb continues soft and rideable and with a final effort here we are in Montemonaco, at the foot of the great mountains and gateway to the Sibillini park.