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Strada Imperiale (Trail 555): Route, Difficulty and Map

S Start: Colle Abieri · 1,774 m A Finish: Passo di Sasso Borghese · 2,054 m

Map and track: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Trail facts

Start
Colle Abieri · 1,774 m
Finish
Passo di Sasso Borghese · 2,054 m
Route
one way
Trail marker
555
Municipality
Castelsantangelo sul Nera

The Strada Imperiale is a hiking trail in the Sibillini Mountains, numbered 555 and graded E (hiking) on the CAI scale. The section is 1.8 km long and not a loop. It links the junction with trail 552 to trail 558, between about 1,774 and 2,054 m, with an elevation difference of about 280 m.

The name refers to an ancient customs road. Shepherds used it during the transhumance to cross from one side of the Sibillini to the other. It was one of the three customs roads of Castelluccio, so called because passage required paying a toll. It linked the eastern and western sides of the Sibillini and was used until the early 1900s mainly for trade. Today it is a high-altitude section among meadows and ridges, with views of Castelluccio.

Distance
1.80 km
Elevation gain
+280 m
Elevation loss
−0 m
Lowest point
1,774 m
Highest point
2,054 m
Difficulty
E, hiking
Time
1 h 10 min (estimate)

From the OpenStreetMap track and the Copernicus DEM profile; time is an estimate.

Before you go

Forecast at the start

  1. Today5° / 0°0.3 mmCloudy

Forecast by MET Norway, updated automatically · license CC BY 4.0

Rules and orders: Park website. Snow and avalanches: Meteomont bulletin.

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Elevation profile
170018001900200021000 km1 km170018001900200021000 km1 km
Ascent
280 m
Descent
0 m
Lowest point
1,774 m
Highest point
2,054 m

Elevations: Copernicus DEM GLO-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018.

Download GPXKML for Google Earth

Indicative OpenStreetMap track: check the markers and trail conditions on site.

The Route of the Strada Imperiale

Trail 555 starts at the junction with trail 552, near Colle Abieri, at almost 1,800 m. Colle Abieri is reached from the area of Forca di Gualdo, via the Fonte di San Lorenzo and Capanna Ghezzi.

From Colle Abieri the route runs along the mountainside northward, toward Palazzo Borghese. Along this section a first, brief view opens over Castelluccio and its plateau.

The trail ends where it meets the ridge, a short distance from the Passo di Sasso Borghese. Here trail 558 climbs to the right toward Monte Argentella. Continuing left, the route climbs to the pass.

The 555 section is short and is usually walked as part of longer hikes toward Monte Argentella. At high altitude it is advisable to check the weather forecast before setting out.

Strada Imperiale Technical Data

  • Trail number: 555
  • Section: from the junction with trail 552 to trail 558
  • Difficulty: E (hiking, CAI scale)
  • Length: 1.8 km
  • Route type: linear, not a loop
  • Maximum elevation: 2,054 m
  • Minimum elevation: 1,774 m
  • Elevation difference: about 280 m

Since the route is linear, the elevation gain depends on the direction of travel.

Strada Imperiale Map

The map shows the route of trail 555, 1.8 km long. The section runs from the junction with trail 552 to trail 558. Other marked trails also cross the same route, including 552 and 558.

Points of Interest Along the Strada Imperiale

Colle Abieri is the starting point of the section, at almost 1,800 m. From here the outline of Palazzo Borghese is clearly visible. From the hill it is also possible to descend to Capanna Ghezzi.

Passo di Sasso Borghese is the saddle between Palazzo Borghese and Monte Argentella, and leads onto the Strada Imperiale. From the pass, a short detour over easy rocks reaches the rocky summit of Sasso Borghese, at 2,119 m.

Monte Argentella, at 2,200 m, is reached from the junction with trail 558.

Frequently asked questions

How difficult is the Strada Imperiale?

Trail 555 is graded E, meaning hiking, on the CAI scale. The section is 1.8 km long and has an elevation difference of about 280 m. The elevation gain depends on the direction of travel, because the route is not a loop.

Is the Strada Imperiale a loop?

No, trail 555 is linear. It runs from the junction with trail 552 to trail 558 and is 1.8 km long. It can be included in longer hikes, such as those to Monte Argentella. Other ideas are on the page of loop hikes in the Sibillini.

Why is it called the Strada Imperiale?

It was an ancient customs road: its use depended on paying a toll. Shepherds walked it during the transhumance to move from one side of the Sibillini to the other. It was one of the three customs roads of Castelluccio. It was also used for trade, until the early 1900s.

Which peaks can you reach from the Strada Imperiale?

From the Passo di Sasso Borghese, a short detour climbs to Sasso Borghese, at 2,119 m. From the junction with trail 558, Monte Argentella can be reached, at 2,200 m. Palazzo Borghese lies above the pass, on the opposite side from Monte Argentella.

Nearby

Where to stay

Where to eat

Straight-line distances.