Infernaccio and San Leonardo Gorge

Descrizione

The Infernaccio Gorge is one of the most iconic places in the Sibillini Park and among the most fascinating places in the entire Apennines.

Our itinerary begins at the crossroads on Provincial Road 148, where the dirt road leading to the gorges branches off. The first stretch of about 3 km is driveable, so if you want to shorten the route, you can continue by car and look for a resting place along the road, taking care not to be in the way. We advise you, if you can, to avoid the summer weekends because of the large number of tourists who take the route and the consequent number of cars looking for a parking spot.

After three kilometres, two concrete blocks block the way for cars and the obligatory walk begins.

Another kilometre of wide road and the path proper begins, heralded by the ‘Pisciarelle’, a series of small waterfalls that cascade down the side of the mountain onto the path and on hot days can offer a moment of refreshment.

We begin to enter the gorges, climbing among rocks and vegetation and crossing the stream on a small wooden bridge. The start should not be frightening; the path soon softens as we stay alongside the tumultuous waters that have carved their way through the overhanging rocks.

This is definitely the section that is both the most fascinating and the most frightening, with breathtaking views of the vertical walls, which are very close in places. After a couple of kilometres from the point where the cars stop (and five from the start of the dirt road), we come to a fork in the road on the right indicating, the Hermitage of San Leonardo.

If we continue straight ahead, we can lengthen the route as far as Capotenna, where the springs of the river are; here the valley opens up to reveal the peak of Monte Bove and the surrounding mountains. Up to this point the path remains easy and suitable for everyone, while continuing towards the peaks is reserved for hikers who are more physically prepared and organised to tackle long stretches of mountain.

Returning to our itinerary and our crossroads (altitude 970m), we take a right and begin to climb more decisively, reaching after about one kilometre the 1120 m altitude of the Eremo.

The Hermitage is a neo-Gothic-style church rebuilt by Father Pietro Lavini of Potenza Picena, who in the 1970s, fascinated by the site, began the solitary enterprise of reconstructing the ancient church, now in ruins; reconstruction that lasted over forty years, until his death.

This is where our route ends, which we will have to travel backwards to return to our starting point.