Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 5: Forcella to Valledacqua

The route of Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 5

The walk starts from Forcella and almost immediately descends to the waterfall, where the Rio Tallacano drops about 15 meters. Right next to it stands the Mulino Pompili, one of the few water mills in the area still in working order, restored and fitted out to host guests.

After crossing the Tronto river, the trail reaches the sulfur springs of Lu Vurghe, in the hamlet of Santa Maria. They have been known since Roman times. The bluish waters gush out at 38.6 °C at the end of a series of caves, and pools have been built nearby where it is possible to bathe.

The path then climbs to Paggese, a medieval village built of travertine, famous for its "pietre parlanti" ("talking stones"): Latin inscriptions carved into the lintels of doors and windows. Beyond the village, a short walk leads to Castel di Luco, a fortified structure on a travertine hill, guarding the valley.

The last section follows one of the mule tracks reopened through the "Antiche vie mulattiere di Acquasanta Terme" project (old mule tracks of Acquasanta Terme) and leads to Valledacqua, near the abbey of San Benedetto.

Stage 5 technical data: Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani

The stage is not a loop: it starts in Forcella and ends in Valledacqua. The length is about 11 km. The difficulty is E on the CAI scale, meaning a hiking trail. The walking time is 4 hours and 30 minutes.

The elevation gain is about 600 m, while the total descent is around 520 m. The route moves between about 340 and 710 m of altitude. The lowest point is the floor of the Tronto valley, the highest the areas above the villages.

The trail is managed by Le Marche Experience. The Grande Anello has signage along the way. For the neighboring stages, see Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani stage 4, from Abetito to Forcella, and Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani stage 6, from Valledacqua to Coperso.

Map of Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 5

The route links Forcella to Valledacqua by way of Santa Maria, Paggese and Castel di Luco. Useful support points are also marked along the way: drinking water, a picnic table and two bodies of water. The stage is part of the Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani, an itinerary of about 100 km in seven stages.

Points of interest along Grande Anello dei Borghi Ascolani Stage 5

The Forcella waterfall can be reached on foot from the small church of San Giovanni, near Forcella. In summer it draws people looking for the coolness of the water.

In Paggese the church of San Lorenzo is worth a stop. The route also passes near the hamlets of Luco, Cocoscia and Venamartello and the Church of Santissima Annunziata.

Castel di Luco has an elliptical plan and keeps its medieval appearance. The name comes from lucus, the clearing in the woods where light comes in. The 2016 earthquake had badly damaged it; after reconstruction and restoration work it reopened in March 2024 as a historic residence.

The abbey of San Benedetto in Valledacqua grew from the remains of the ancient abbey of the monks of Farfa, built at the end of the 10th century. Inside, frescoes rediscovered on the walls survive. The building was damaged by the 2016-17 earthquake. In 2019 it was declared usable, but partly enclosed in safety structures.