Sentiero Italia CAI: San Martino to Colle d'Arquata

The Route of the Sentiero Italia (San Martino - Colle d'Arquata)

From San Martino (about 790 m) the trail gains height immediately up to the San Paolo ridge, below the Montecalvo fortress. From here the trail follows the ridge for the whole climb: it passes below Colle dell'Araglione and Monte Libretti, reaches the Fonte della Scentella spring at about 1,220 m and continues over Colle Pidocchi, Monte Cesarotta and Cima Fonteguidone, already above 1,850 m.

The highest point is the Macera della Morte, at 2,022 m. Then the crest descends northwest to Passo il Chino (1,581 m). From the pass the trail enters the woods, reaches a gravel road at 1,290 m, follows it east for about 400 meters and leaves it for a path that descends southwest to Colle d'Arquata, at just under 1,000 m.

Sentiero Italia Technical Data (San Martino - Colle d'Arquata)

The difficulty is E, hiking, but the length and elevation gain make it a stage for fit hikers. More than half of the route lies above 1,500 m, on an open ridge: in fog or strong wind, route-finding becomes harder, and snow can linger well into spring.

The stage is one-way and its two ends are far apart even by road. In San Martino there is a parking lot about fifty meters from the start.

Sentiero Italia Map (San Martino - Colle d'Arquata)

The Sentiero Italia section descending from Ceppo, in Abruzzo, arrives in San Martino. In Colle d'Arquata the next stage begins, SI N02, toward Madonna delle Coste.

Points of Interest Along the Sentiero Italia (San Martino - Colle d'Arquata)

The Fonte della Scentella, after just over four kilometers, is the only spring marked on the climbing section. On the ridge, after the Macera della Morte, is the Bivacco della Pedata, a bivouac hut at about 1,800 m and the only shelter along the stage. All the other intermediate landmarks are summits and passes: there are no villages between the start and the finish.