Things to do in Arquata del Tronto

Things to do in Arquata del Tronto: the map

The places of interest are divided between the main town and the hamlets. The municipality includes 13 hamlets and two localities. The Rocca stands on the crag north of the town, above the main center.

The hamlets most often mentioned for their historic and artistic interest are Borgo, Trisungo, Spelonga and Capodacqua. Borgo takes its name from being the settlement below the castle. To these are added Pretare and Pescara del Tronto. The Forca di Presta pass, a viewpoint and starting point for hikes, is reached by a road that branches off the Salaria near Trisungo.

Since the earthquake, some areas have been subject to restrictions. The hamlet of Borgo was closed to traffic. Before setting off, check which areas are accessible.

Things to do in Arquata del Tronto: the places not to miss

Rocca di Arquata. The medieval fortress is a typical example of 13th-century military architecture in the Umbrian-Marche Apennines. It was built mainly in the 13th century and reinforced several times in the centuries that followed. It was built of sandstone, the local stone. The massive walls support a 24 m keep and a polygonal tower with Guelph battlements. It served to control traffic on the Salaria along the Tronto. According to popular tradition, it was the residence of Queen Giovanna d'Angiò between 1420 and 1435. For this reason it is also called the "Castello della Regina Giovanna" (Queen Giovanna's Castle).

The Rocca stayed standing after the shocks of August 24 and October 30, 2016, but came out of them damaged. Today it is unsafe and the interior cannot be visited. In October 2025 the Conferenza dei Servizi (the permitting conference) for the restoration closed with a positive outcome. In July 2026 the final construction design was approved, with total funding of 5.4 million euros: it provides for seismic upgrading, restoration and recovery of the access paths. For now the Rocca can be admired from outside and from a distance. For more, see the page about the Arquata Fortress.

Porta Sant'Agata. It is the last surviving part of the medieval walls. In the past, tolls were paid here.

Church of Santissima Annunziata. It used to hold a 13th-century wooden crucifix, considered the oldest in Le Marche, which since 2020 has been in the church of San Salvatore in the SAE village (temporary emergency housing) of Borgo. Since the earthquake badly damaged the town of Arquata, check on accessibility before including it in the tour.

Church of Santissimo Salvatore. It stands on the San Salvatore plateau, below the town, overlooking the new route of the Salaria. It was rebuilt in 1931 over the ruins of the original building from the 1200s.

Borgo and the Sindone di Arquata. In the hamlet of Borgo is the Chiesa di San Francesco, with a small 13th-century monastery. It held the Sindone di Arquata (the Arquata Shroud), a copy taken from the original Holy Shroud, which after the 2016 earthquake was moved to the Cathedral of Sant'Emidio in Ascoli Piceno. The Extractum ab originali is dated 1645. The church also held a crucifix from the 1400s, an altar from the 1600s and a painting from 1527 of a Madonna and Saints. In October 2026 the restoration project for the church was approved: before going to Borgo, check whether it can be reached. More details are on the page about the Chiesa di San Francesco and the Sindone.

Capodacqua and the Tempietto della Madonna del Sole. The hamlet is home to a 16th-century octagonal shrine, with frescoes attributed to Cola dell'Amatrice. More can be read about the Small Temple of the Madonna del Sole.

Spelonga. The Drappo di Lepanto (Lepanto banner) comes from the parish church of Sant'Agata. According to tradition, about a hundred men from Spelonga took part in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 and brought home a banner taken from a Turkish ship.

Trisungo. The hamlet holds the only remnant of the ancient Via Salaria: a milestone from the 1st century BC.

Pretare. Just outside the village is an old kiln. It also lies along the road that climbs toward Forca di Presta.

Pescara del Tronto. It is one of the villages that symbolize the devastation caused by the 2016 earthquake. The parish church dedicated to the Cross collapsed in on itself during the first shock of August 24, 2016. In October 2025 the Conferenza dei servizi approved the project for the infrastructure works and the redesign of the hamlet. It is a place to visit with respect. It is covered on the page about Pescara del Tronto.

Villa Papi. A short distance from the main town is a house museum with a large park, where the artist's creations blend with nature. The artist is Diego Pierpaoli, father of immanentism.

Forca di Presta. The pass lies at 1,536 m above sea level, at the foot of Monte Vettore, and marks the border between Le Marche and Umbria. At the end of the trail a wooden boardwalk leads to a viewpoint over the Monti della Laga and the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Spelonga. Not far away is Castelluccio di Norcia. For centuries Arquata was disputed between Ascoli and Norcia, tied to the latter until 1815, and the oldest route between the two towns passed through Forca di Presta. The European path E1 crosses the area. The page about Forca di Presta explains how to get there and the trails.

The short trail is 3 km long. The first part has a compacted surface, suitable for strollers and wheelchairs too. The last part is a wooden boardwalk of about 200 meters to a viewing area. At the top there is a small wooden building with restrooms and a skyline panel for identifying villages and peaks. On the clearest days the Gran Sasso d'Italia can be made out.

Those who prefer a demanding hike can climb from Arquata: the Arquata del Tronto – Forca di Presta loop is 11.2 km, with 980 m of elevation gain, 4 hours and 10 minutes of walking and EE difficulty (for expert hikers). It climbs through chestnut groves to Forca di Presta. The trail has two possible starting points: Forca di Presta or Camartina. Another trail suitable for everyone, no. 6, leads to a viewing platform over the Monti della Laga and the ancient Via Salaria. The sections of the Grande Anello dei Sibillini in the area are described on the pages for the individual stages, such as Grande Anello dei Sibillini stage 7.

Things to do in Arquata del Tronto: tips for the visit

Before setting off. The earthquake left its mark on most of the town. The historic center of the main town is still a construction site: with the handover of the works at the end of August 2026, the project to rebuild the historic center of Arquata's main town officially began. The 71 million euro project will consolidate the hill and prepare seismic isolation for the entire historic center. For this reason, find out in advance which churches and hamlets are accessible. A first tour can be done while staying outside the restricted areas.

How to plan the tour. The simplest tour starts from the main town: the Rocca from outside, Porta Sant'Agata and the viewpoints. Then continue toward the hamlets and climb to Forca di Presta. The area is large and the localities are spread out, so the visit requires a car and some time to get around.

When to go. Arquata can be visited in every season. From the pass you can see the Pian Grande di Castelluccio, which blooms between late May and mid-July. In winter, ski mountaineering and cross-country skiing are possible. In summer there is free flight by hang glider, paraglider and paramotor. The altitude and low light pollution draw astronomy enthusiasts. At Forca di Presta wind is frequent, so suitable clothing is needed. Before a hike, always check the weather.

Where to stay and eat. For overnight stays there are the places listed on the page about where to stay in Arquata del Tronto. For meals there are the restaurants and local products on the dedicated pages.