7TH ROUTE: Montegallo – Colle Le Cese (19 km)

We follow the “Reapers’ Trail,” at the foot of the eastern and southeastern slopes of Mount Vettore (2,476 m), to Forca di Presta, from which the view opens to the Tronto Valley and the Castelluccio Plains.

The “Path of the Reapers” was traveled by laborers, often with children in tow, who went up from the coastal areas to the Apennines to offer labor in harvesting, following the grain ripening cycle. The reapers moved from village to village to “make the Square“, that is, to wait in the village for the landowners who would pass through at dawn for the engagement. The last grain to ripen was that grown in the Castelluccio Plains, visible from Forca di Presta, the trail’s end point.

The first section of the trail offers magnificent views of the steep gullies and rock faces of Mount Vettore and, beyond the Tronto Valley, the Laga massif, which is included in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park.

On Mount Vettore, with any luck, it is possible to enjoy the majestic flight of thegolden eagle, a true queen of the air.

Length: 19 km
Height difference in ascent: 650 m
Downhill elevation gain: 190 m
Highest point: 2476 m
Lowest point: 1751 m
Type of surface: mixed

Municipality of departure: Montegallo
Starting location: Montegallo
Municipality of arrival: Arquata del Tronto
Finish location: Colle Le Cese

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.