Gole del Fiastrone: how to get there and trails

Where the Gole del Fiastrone are

The Fiastrone stream rises below the Fargno, in the northern part of the Sibillini Mountains. In the municipality of Fiastra a dam forms Lago di Fiastra, the largest artificial reservoir in the Marche. The gorge opens just below the dam.

The gorge can be approached from the municipality of Cessapalombo. Much of the Cessapalombo area lies within the Sibillini National Park. Trails to the Grotta dei Frati, the Lame Rosse and the Fiastrone gorge start from its hamlets. The 2022 ban covers stretches that fall within the territory of Fiastra, the lake's municipality.

How to get to the Gole del Fiastrone

From the Cessapalombo side the route passes through the hamlet of Villa. Beyond Villa, follow the signs for the Grotta dei Frati and drive the whole dirt road to a small clearing where you can park. The trail starts there.

From the Montalto di Cessapalombo side, from the junction on the dirt road a level road runs for about 1 km to a widening set aside for parking. A tourist sign marks the start of the trail into the woods. The dirt road is dusty, so careful driving is advisable.

From Lago di Fiastra the walk can start at the dam, where the trail to the Lame Rosse begins. Another option is to follow the lakeshore to Paninventre, continue to the viewpoint and leave the car there. Alternatively, take the dirt road of via Ruffella and follow it for about a kilometer.

Trails and hikes at the Gole del Fiastrone

The easiest route from Cessapalombo is the one to the Grotta dei Frati. It starts from Villa di Montalto, heading toward Monastero, and the route is about 5 km. It is classified as easy and takes about 90 minutes out and 90 back. The surface is a woodland trail.

The trail heads into the woods and has two branches: the first goes down to the stream toward the gorge, the second climbs toward the Lame Rosse. The junction toward the gorge has no signs. With the ban in force, it is best not to take it.

Anyone who reaches the cave, on a poorly marked route with a steep elevation change, has to turn back rather than complete the loop. The route along the river has been wiped out by landslides and brambles.

There is another starting point from Monastero. The hike starts from the Monastero cemetery and descends to the Fiastrone. On this route the river crossing may not be passable, so it is wise to check before leaving.

For the loop from the dam, the historic variant involved wading the river for about 1.5 km to the gorge. Today this section is banned. Before setting out, check the weather and ask the municipality of Fiastra or the Park about trail conditions.

When to visit the Gole del Fiastrone

The most suitable season is summer, when the Fiastrone is easier to cross. The river can only be forded in summer. In the other months the flow makes the crossing harder and there is a risk of having to turn back. With the current ban, however, summer does not make the banned section passable.

During floods, rain and bad weather it is advisable to avoid the trail to the Grotta dei Frati and the gorge, because it has hazards. Between April and May the undergrowth of the Sibillini around Cessapalombo fills with orchids. This is a good time to walk in the woods of Villa.

What to see near the Gole del Fiastrone

The Grotta dei Frati is the main stop. It was a refuge for Benedictine monks around the year 1000, and in 1234 a convent with a chapel was built there. The cave reaches deep into the rock and opens beneath limestone walls that drop to the bed of the Fiastrone.

The Lame Rosse are a short distance away. Erosion of gravel, clay and silt has created towers, pinnacles and blades. The trail to the Lame Rosse branches off along the Nature Trail N16. This is a loop that starts from Palazzo Simonelli, at the locality of Tribbio, and passes through Villa and the Aula didattica Rio Vallone, an educational center.

In Monastero stands the Abbey of San Salvatore. From the cemetery a paved road climbs 300 m to the abbey, where there is also a drinking fountain. For more ravines and valleys in the area, see the page on the gorges and valleys of the Sibillini.