Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 4: Abetito to Forcella

The route of Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 4

The stage starts from Abetito, where Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani stage 3 ends. The route climbs through chestnut and beech woods and reaches an altitude of about 1,200 meters. Along the ridges the view opens onto the Vettore massif and the Fluvione valley. The trail also runs along Monte Pianamonte, a long ridge of 1,279 m with views toward Monte Vettore and the Sibillini Mountains.

The most distinctive section is at Piandelloro. Here an easy path, which once connected the village to the valley floor, runs past houses set into the rock. They were inhabited until the 1950s. These buildings lean against the sandstone walls, with rooms used as stables and haylofts. The path winds through mixed woods of chestnut and holm oak and sandstone outcrops. In spring the colors and scents of the flora stand out.

The stage ends in Forcella. From here Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani stage 5 sets off toward Valledacqua.

Stage 4 technical data: Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani

• Trail code: GABA4
• Start and finish: from Abetito to Forcella. The stage is not a loop, as it starts and ends in two different places.
• Length: 10.6 km
• Elevation change: 460 m of ascent and 810 m of descent
• Walking time: about 5 hours
• Difficulty: E (CAI scale)
• Highest point: about 1,200 m
• Managed by: Le Marche Experience
• Parking: no parking is marked near the start; there is a parking area in Forcella, just before the finish

The best period runs from spring to fall. In winter, harsh temperatures and snow can cause difficulties. Before setting out it is advisable to check the weather and, for a mountain section of this size, to allow for the five hours of walking. For this reason an early start is recommended.

Map of Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 4

The map shows the route from Abetito to Forcella. Along the Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani the waymarking is both painted on the ground and on signposts. GPS tracks can be downloaded from the official website of the trek. To see the stage in the context of the whole itinerary, about 100 km in seven stages, see the page for the Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani.

Points of interest along Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 4

• Abetito: the starting point, with the Chiesa di San Pietro.
• Piandelloro: a small, half-abandoned settlement, with the cave dwellings just beyond. The ruins of Case Casale and those of the so-called Casa nella grotta ("house in the cave") are also marked nearby.
• Vallefusella: a hamlet passed before the finish.
• Viewpoint and picnic area: both are marked along the route. Also along the route there are two drinking water points.
• Forcella: a medieval village on a rocky terrace, above the confluence of the Rio Tallacano valley and the Tronto river. Its small square, with the church of Sant'Antonio and the 16th-century buildings that once belonged to prominent families, defines its identity.