Cascatelle di Sarnano: how to get there and trails

Where the Cascatelle di Sarnano are located

The Cascatelle di Sarnano are in the hamlet of Romani, in the municipality of Sarnano, about 1.7 km on foot from the village's main square. The point where the trail reaches the waterfall is lower than Sarnano's historic center. The village, at 539 m, stands on a rise on the right bank of the Tennacola, with the Sibillini Mountains in the background.

The Cascatelle are just outside the Sibillini Mountains National Park, slightly beyond its eastern edge. Farther upstream, toward Piobbico, a hamlet of Sarnano, the Tennacola and its tributaries form two more water sites: the Pozze dell'Acquasanta and the Cascata del Pellegrino. A marked trail links them to the Cascatelle.

The place is simple: the stream drops between moss-covered rocks and, a few meters downstream, the water is shallow again. The Tennacola can be crossed by stepping on the stones, or by wading into very cold water.

How to get to the Cascatelle di Sarnano

The Cascatelle di Sarnano can be reached on foot from the village center in about 20-30 minutes, or by car to within a few hundred meters of the waterfall. First of all, get to Sarnano.

By car. From the Adriatic coast, leave the A14 highway at the Civitanova Marche exit. Then take the expressway toward Foligno as far as the Macerata Ovest exit and continue on the SS 78 toward Sarnano. From the Macerata Ovest junction to Sarnano is about 30 km. From Rome, take the A1 to the Orte exit, toward Foligno. From there, take the Foligno–Civitanova Marche expressway and exit at Caldarola.

By train. It is possible to take the train to Tolentino and then continue by bus to Sarnano.

On foot from the center. From Piazza della Libertà, head toward Sassotetto and take Via Benedetto Costa. After about 500 m, at the junction with Via San Rocco, turn left and go down to the Church of San Rocco. There, turn right and walk through the small village of Romani. After the last houses, cross a bridge and continue until a dirt road begins on the right. This leads to the old stone mill, now a private home. Past the house, the stream runs on the left: take the little path among the trees and follow it along the water. After a few meters the Cascatelle appear.

By car to the waterfall. Much of this route can be driven. Park along the contrada Romani, before the dirt road, and follow the wooden sign that marks the route. Heading toward the sound of the water, the waterfall is about 3 minutes away on foot.

To see the waterfall from above. Go back along the path, climb a few meters on the road to the left and enter the woods a little farther on. This leads right above the falls.

Trails and hikes to the Cascatelle di Sarnano

The Cascatelle are the third stop on the Via delle Cascate Perdute, an easy loop of just under 6 km. The elevation gain is low, about 120 m in total, and there is only one short steep stretch, before the Cascata dell'Antico Mulino. The full loop takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes and is classified as touristic-hiking. It is suitable for children and adults and can be walked all year round with closed, non-slip shoes.

Along the route there are three large parking areas: Largo Bozzoni, very close to the historic center; the sports facilities area on Via Scarfiotti, near the Cascata dell'Antico Mulino; and the Morelli light-industrial area. It is best to leave the car at Largo Bozzoni, connected by an elevator to Piazza Perfetti, the official starting point of the route. The stops and walking times are as follows:

• from Piazza Perfetti to the Cascata dell'Antico Mulino: about 15 minutes. The route descends toward the contrada Piano, then a steep stretch leads to the waterfall;
• from the Antico Mulino to the Cascata de lu Vagnatò: about 30 minutes. One stretch is on the Strada Provinciale 78 Picena, then a path leads to the locality of Morelli;
• from the Cascata de lu Vagnatò to the Cascatelle: about 25 minutes. A narrow path climbs through the trees, crosses the Tennacola on a wooden bridge and runs along the stream. It then reaches a gravel road that leads to the mill house and the Cascatelle;
• from the Cascatelle to the historic center: more than 30 minutes. The route passes the Chiesa di San Rocco, the school complex and the Parco del Serafino. From there Piazza Perfetti is about 400 m away.

The trail is marked. It is also possible to visit the three waterfalls one at a time.

Hike to the Pozze dell'Acquasanta and the Cascata del Pellegrino. From the Cascatelle a second route of about 5.4 km begins, taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes, with touristic-hiking difficulty. The trail is well marked and runs through the woods. After about 10 minutes comes a natural area along the Tennacola, suitable for a break. Then the route crosses the stream on a wooden bridge and, in about an hour of walking, reaches the Pozze dell'Acquasanta. These are deep potholes (giant's kettles) carved by the Acquasanta stream, a tributary of the Tennacola. About 5 more minutes lead to the Cascata del Pellegrino, which flows out of a deep cleft in the rock and can be seen all year round. To return, it is possible to take the trail back toward the Cascatelle. Alternatively, climb on a fair gradient to the hamlet of Margani, which overlooks the Abbey of Piobbico and the mountains above Sarnano.

When to visit the Cascatelle di Sarnano

The Cascatelle di Sarnano are easy to reach in every season, but summer is when they are busiest. On hot days the shady woods and the cold water of the Tennacola offer some relief. As the people of Sarnano do when the heat turns muggy, swimming is possible in summer.

The Via delle Cascate Perdute can be walked all year round, as long as clothing and shoes are suitable. In rainy periods the steep descent toward the Cascata dell'Antico Mulino can be muddy and slippery. The ground near the waterfalls and the steps can be slippery. Before setting out, it is wise to check the weather and, if planning to go into the water, to bring water shoes.

What to see near the Cascatelle di Sarnano

The simplest way to round off the visit is to walk the whole Via delle Cascate Perdute. The first stop is the Cascata dell'Antico Mulino del Piano. It is actually two drops totaling over 12 m, formed on thick layers of sandstone. Next to it are the ruins of a 16th-century mill, covered by vegetation. A wooden footbridge leads to a small beach in front of the pool.

In the locality of Morelli is the Cascata de lu Vagnatò, about 10 m high. The waters of the Tennacola are rich in calcium carbonate and have formed travertine and tufa (pietra spugna) on the lip and face of the waterfall. The name comes from a dialect expression: once, above the falls, there was a large basin where the young people of Sarnano went swimming. At the end of the path an old basin used by washerwomen can still be seen.

Going up the stream leads to the Pozze dell'Acquasanta and the Cascata del Pellegrino. This land belonged to the Abbazia di Piobbico, so the name ("pilgrim") probably comes from the pilgrims who passed this way. For a wilder hike there is the Valle dei Tre Santi, also called the Valle dei Tre Salti. It is a narrow gorge carved by the Tennacola, with a path in the shade of the woods that ends in front of a waterfall. Along the route the stream is crossed several times on slippery stones.

After the water, Sarnano's historic center is worth a stop. The medieval village is enclosed by walls, belongs to the association of I Borghi più belli d'Italia (the most beautiful villages in Italy) and holds the Bandiera Arancione (orange flag) of the Touring Club Italiano. Sarnano is also known for the Terme di San Giacomo spa. The other waterfalls of the area are on the page dedicated to the waterfalls of the Sibillini Mountains in the Marche.