Garulla (Amandola): what to see, trails and the mountain hut
At a glance
- Municipality
- Amandola
- Province
- Fermo
- Region
- Le Marche
Garulla is a mountain hamlet in the municipality of Amandola, in the province of Fermo, in Le Marche. It is made up of two villages, Garulla Inferiore and Garulla Superiore, at the foot of Monte Amandola. Garulla Superiore sits at about 880 m. From here the view drops over the hills all the way to the sea, and trails climb toward Monte Amandola and Monte Castel Manardo. This makes the hamlet a stage of the Grande Anello dei Sibillini (GAS), a long-distance loop trail, and a starting point for hikes and mountain bike rides.
The road from Amandola is a paved provincial road, and the town center is a few minutes away by car. Garulla is therefore convenient for anyone looking for altitude and trails without straying far from the town's services.
On the map
Points from the site database. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors · Protomaps.
What to see in Garulla
Garulla has two clusters. Coming up from Amandola, Garulla Inferiore comes first, at about 800 m, and Garulla Superiore lies higher up. Before reaching the lower village, the road passes the locality of Madonna della Pace.
The main draw is the landscape. From the mountain hut at Garulla Superiore, at about 876 m, the view takes in the hills below and on clear days reaches the sea. Trail N4 also starts from Garulla, leading to the small village of Casalicchio, at 882 m.
For the churches, palazzi and museums of the main town, see things to do in Amandola.
Nature and trails near Garulla
The easiest route is the Sentiero Natura di Amandola, a loop starting from the hut at Garulla Superiore. It takes about 3 hours. It crosses woods, clearings and meadows with centuries-old trees. There are no technical sections: the challenge is the length. The views open up in the second half, as the trail climbs toward 1,000 m.
To gain more altitude, Monte Amandola (1,706 m) can be reached from Garulla. The route follows trail N4 to Casalicchio, climbs to the Rifugio Città di Amandola and continues on trail E6 (241). The return goes by the Rifugio Casale di Vallecaprina. The hike by the CAI (Italian Alpine Club) of Fermo is 11 km round trip, with 850 m of elevation gain.
Other destinations reachable on foot or by mountain bike are:
- the plain of Campolungo (Amandola);
- the springs of the Ambro;
- Monte Castel Manardo, which rises to 1,917 m;
- Pizzo Tre Vescovi;
- Monte Priora.
Toward Valle Caprina and the Balzo Rosso there are walks where many wild orchids bloom in spring. That area also appeals to birdwatchers.
Between Garulla and Campolungo there is also an easy route, suitable for snowshoes too. It takes about 5 hours, runs mostly along a service road through the beech forest and has no trail markings. The area was hit hard by the 2016 earthquakes, so it is best to check trail conditions before setting out.
Another option is the Valle – Garulla Superiore – Rifugio Amandola loop. It is 14.6 km long, with about 600 m of ascent, graded E (hiking trail), and can be done from April to November when there is no snow.
Where to stay in Garulla
In Garulla, overnight stays are at the hikers' hut at Garulla Superiore. It is a stage stop on the Grande Anello dei Sibillini and is run by a local family. It offers several options, to be booked in advance: tent pitches, bed and breakfast and half board. There are rooms with private bathrooms and wifi, and an equipped area for cleaning and stowing motorcycles, e-bikes and bicycles.
For other places in the municipality, see where to stay in Amandola.
Where to eat in Garulla
The hut at Garulla Superiore also has a restaurant serving the traditional cooking of the Sibillini Mountains. The specialty is fregnacce di Amandola, a rolled egg pasta. It is best to book before driving up, especially when arriving outside weekends.
For other places in the municipality, see the page on Amandola restaurants.
Local products of Garulla
The dish most closely tied to the area is fregnacce di Amandola, served in the hut's local cooking. For products and shops, see Amandola local products and shops.
Weather and how to get to Garulla
From Amandola, take the SP83 toward Montefortino. After the cemetery, turn right following the signs for Garulla and the huts. The climb passes first through Garulla Inferiore and then Garulla Superiore, where the hut is, about ten minutes by car from the center of Amandola. The surface of the provincial road is in good condition. Beyond Garulla the pavement ends, and the gravel road on the left leads to Campolungo.
Amandola is reached from the A14 highway via the Civitanova Marche or Pedaso exits. Travelers using public transportation can take the Steat (from Fermo) and Sasp (from Macerata) bus lines to Amandola. From there, a car or taxi is needed to get up to Garulla.
In winter there can be snow at these altitudes, and snowshoe hikes are also run in that season. In winter, before taking the dirt road that links Garulla to Pintura di Bolognola, check that it is open. For hikes without snow, the period indicated by the CAI for the Valle – Garulla Superiore loop runs from April to November. Check the forecast before setting out.