Col di Pietra Fortress in Cessapalombo

History of Col di Pietra Fortress

The fortress belonged to the abbey of San Clemente a Casauria and later to the Varano family, with a mainly military and defensive role. The name appears in documents of the Duchy of Camerino. In 1468 the investiture diploma of Paul II to Giulio Cesare da Varano mentions it as "Castrum Collispetre". In 1502 the Duchy's inventory records it as a walled castle with a fortress, with 21 hearths (households).

The village has changed its appearance over the centuries. Its current layout most likely dates from the early 19th century. During the 19th century the church attached to the fortress was demolished because it was unsafe and rebuilt in the village below.

What to see at Col di Pietra Fortress

The site preserves the remains of the watchtower and the vaulted halls. Its strong point is the position. The fortress stands on a rocky spur that controlled access to the Fiastrone valley and looks out over Pian di Pieca. From above there are views of the Sibillini Mountains and of the Gole del Fiastrone, the gorges that drop sheer below the site.

How to visit Col di Pietra Fortress

The site is reached on foot or by bike. A walking route starts from the village of La Villa, a hamlet of Cessapalombo, and continues on a gravel road and then a dirt track. The site can also be reached by car. There is also a mountain bike loop of a few kilometers on a gravel surface, starting in the hamlet of Villa di Montaldo.

As these are ruins, it is best to wear suitable footwear and check the weather before setting out.

Where Col di Pietra Fortress is located

The fortress is in Cessapalombo, in the Fiastrone valley, inside the Sibillini National Park. The municipality lies in the mountainous inland area of the province of Macerata.

Around Col di Pietra Fortress

From the village of Col di Pietra the Molinaccio area can be reached, where a power station operated until the 1940s. The trail is of medium difficulty and takes about 45 minutes. Today the ruins of the power station, the canal and the dam can be seen. Other easy routes lead to the Cascata del Lupo and the Cascata del Molinaccio waterfalls.

The Grotta dei Frati, between Cessapalombo and Fiastra, was a refuge for Benedictine monks around the year 1000. In 1234 they built a convent and a chapel there. The Castello di Montalto (Cessapalombo) has three circuits of walls. Other fortifications in the area are described on the page castles and fortresses of the Sibillini.