STAGE 1: Visso – Cupi (12.1 km)

The itinerary starts from the historic center of Visso, within the Monti Sibillini National Park (on the border between Marche and Umbria), and retraces a section of the ancient road that connected the Kingdom of Naples with the Chienti Valley and Loreto. The environment is characterized by plateaus that open wide views of the imposing North Bove Mountain wall and the Visso and Ussita Valleys. The presence of pastures testifies to the centuries-old tradition of pastoralism while, among the cultivated fields, visible signs of ancient terracing indicate that crops once went higher.

The Mount Bove area is made interesting by the dolomite-looking walls, the splendid glacial cirques in the Bove and Panico valleys, and, at the higher elevations, the extensive pastures that are home to numerous floristic species characteristic of the Sibillini Mountains.

Technical description:
The 12-kilometer route runs northward – on an easy via ferrata – from Visso to Cupi, following the slopes of Mt. Careschio.
From Visso you go around the mountain to Piani di Macereto, from which you continue until you reach Cupi after bypassing Fosso La Valle.

Length: 12 km
Height difference in ascent: 800 m
Downhill elevation gain: 423 m
Highest point: 1159 m
Lowest point: 617 m
Type of surface: mixed

Municipality of departure: Visso
Place of departure: Visso
Municipality of arrival: Visso
Finish location: Cupi

Recommended period: all year round

The Great Sibillini Ring is a hiking route of about 124 km that encompasses the entire mountain range found in the Umbria-Marche Apennines.

Divided into 9 stages, it is fully signposted and allows you to get to know, in addition to the multiplicity of landscapes and natural beauty, part of the priceless historical and cultural heritage that this territory preserves.

The Great Sibillini Ring is among the most beautiful routes incentral Italy. Through the nine stages it is possible to circumnavigate the territory of the Sibillini Mountains National Park, visiting the history of its small villages and the wilderness of its mountains. The tour encompasses the Park in a clockwise direction, starting from the location of Visso and returning to it after passing through some characteristic places, such as the ancient route of the Kingdom of Naples, the Sanctuary of Macereto, the town of Fiastra and the lake of the same name, the Abbey of San Salvatore, the Argenta Valleys Museum, the Abbey of St. Vincent and Anastasius, Mount Carrier and more.

On the way you can enjoy the Apennine landscape and spot the wildlife that inhabits the Park. The excellent organization of the park authority, as well as the great availability of information regarding the routes, allows for dynamic organization of the tour, enabling you to change its length according to your availability of time and energy.