Grande Anello di Arquata Stage 2: Spelonga to Colle d'Arquata

The route of Grande Anello di Arquata Stage 2

From the square of the Church of Sant'Agata, in Spelonga, the route climbs into the upper part of the village to the small church of Sant'Emidio, at about 970 m. In front of the fountain set against the church starts a wide mule track, paved with large stones, which passes the Schiarezze aqueduct reservoir and the Fosso delle Fonticelle and reaches the chestnut wood of the Macchie. After a gently descending stretch and two tracks taken to the right, the route arrives at the Chiesa della Madonna dei Santi, at 1,128 m.

The arrows for Passo il Chino lead in about 15 minutes to a gravel road, which is followed to the left, climbing slowly for about 4.5 km, with a view of Monte Vettore all the way, to a parking area with a small picnic area. The route then skirts the Vena del Poggio, «de lu Pujie» in local dialect: for about 100 m large boulders overhang the road and stones sometimes roll down, so great care is needed. After the slope the gravel road turns to dirt and in about 500 m reaches the area below the summit of Monte Comunitore, where a wooden fence looks out over the Monti della Laga.

From the Comunitore the route descends for 1 km to Passo il Chino, at 1,581 m, where the Grande Anello di Arquata joins the Sentiero Italia. Following its waymarks, the route descends for about 5 km, with a fair elevation change, first along the ditch carved by the Vargo stream and then among sandstone formations, to the church of the Rocchetta. The hairpin bends on the slope finally lead to Colle d'Arquata.

Stage 2 technical data: Grande Anello di Arquata

• Start: Spelonga, square of the Chiesa di Sant'Agata
• Finish: Colle d'Arquata
• Length: 15.1 km
• Lowest and highest altitude: 945 m and 1,695 m (Monte Comunitore)
• Elevation change: +750 m of ascent, −695 m of descent
• Waymarking: present; from Passo il Chino the Sentiero Italia waymarks are followed
• Difficulty: the complete Grande Anello di Arquata is classified EE, for expert hikers

Drinking water is available in the square of Spelonga, near the Chiesa della Madonna dei Santi, at a spring at the start of the gravel road and in the small square of Colle d'Arquata. In Colle d'Arquata there is a place to stay overnight at the end of the stage, just outside the village along the provincial road. The previous stage is Grande Anello di Arquata stage 1, the next one Grande Anello di Arquata stage 3; the full overview is on the Grande Anello di Arquata page.

Map of Grande Anello di Arquata Stage 2

Arquata Potest publishes the GPS track of stage 2 and a GADA brochure for download; the track is especially helpful among the forest tracks below the Madonna dei Santi.

Points of interest along Grande Anello di Arquata Stage 2

Chiesa della Madonna dei Santi. At 1,128 m, among centuries-old chestnut groves, it is still a destination for local residents on Ferragosto (the mid-August holiday), who have lunch outdoors in the woods after the celebration.

Monte Comunitore. At 1,695 m it is the highest point of the Grande Anello di Arquata; from the fence below the summit there is a view of the Monti della Laga skyline.

Passo il Chino and the Vargo stream. At the pass, at 1,581 m, the loop meets the Sentiero Italia, which descends among the sandstone of the Vargo ditch.

Chiesa della Rocchetta. It stands in a scenic position at 1,108 m on Monte Rocca, just above Colle.

Colle d'Arquata. The small square has the little church of San Sebastiano; just outside the village the Church of San Silvestro overlooks the Valle del Chiarino from a sheer drop.