Montemonaco Trail 156: Rifugio Sibilla – Monte Sibilla

The route of trail 156

At the hut there is a parking lot and a spring. However, the municipal road leading up to it is closed to unauthorized cars on the days when the Comune di Montemonaco shuttle runs: in 2026 from May 30 to October 18 on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and the days before them, and every day from August 1 to 23. From here trail 156 climbs at a very even gradient, around 8 percent, without ever changing pace: about 45 m of elevation every half kilometer, for six kilometers in a row.

At km 2.6, at 1,760 m, the trail passes just over a hundred meters from the Rifugio Mazzaroni, in the Banditella area, a shelter with a spring next to it. Higher up, at km 6.1, the Fonte del Meschino spring is about 150 meters from the route.

At km 6.3 the trail reaches the Sella del Meschino saddle, at 2,129 m: this is the ridge. The last kilometer follows it almost on the level and then climbs to the summit. The Grotta della Sibilla (the Sibyl's Cave) is about 150 meters from the summit, at 2,150 m.

Trail 156 technical details

The Park combines trail 156 with trail 155 in the E10 hiking route, "Sulla montagna magica" (On the magic mountain): a loop of 11.8 km and 710 m of elevation gain, 4 hours and 10 minutes, graded EE. The indicated direction is counterclockwise: up on trail 155, more direct, by way of Monte Zampa, and down on trail 156.

The route status varies from section to section. The ascent from the hut to the summit by way of Monte Zampa presents no problems. Along the section from the summit toward Cima di Vallelunga care is needed: near the trail there are cracks in the ground caused by the earthquake and by gravitational movements. Further on, a landslide had cut the road leading back to the starting point; a footpath has been restored.

Points of interest along trail 156

Monte Sibilla has always evoked legends linked to its cave, now inaccessible: in the Middle Ages knights-errant came here from all over Europe.