Il Pizzo: how to get there and trails

Where Il Pizzo is

Il Pizzo is in the municipality of Montegallo, at 2,281 m. It belongs to the southern subgroup of the Sibillini, which runs from Forca di Presta to Passo Cattivo and includes the highest peaks of the range. It rises on the eastern side of Monte Vettore (2,476 m), along the ridge that links it to the main summit. From the Vettore it takes about half an hour to descend to the peak. From the top there are views of steep, overhanging walls above the road that climbs to Forca di Presta.

How to get to Il Pizzo

No road reaches the summit. The most used starting point is the Forca di Presta pass, at 1,536 m. It is reached from the SS 4 Salaria, turning off for Arquata, Piedilama and Pretare. At the pass there is a large parking area.

An alternative is to start from Colle di Montegallo. From there the route climbs toward the church of Santa Maria in Pantano, largely collapsed in the 2016 earthquake.

Trails and hikes to Il Pizzo

From Forca di Presta, follow trail E15 (CAI 101) to the Rifugio Zilioli and then to the summit of the Vettore. From the Vettore, take a little-used trail east that descends along a sharp ridge to Il Pizzo. The return follows the same route. The itinerary is about 12.2 km long, with 1,108 m of elevation gain and about 6 hours of walking. The Park grades route E15 as EE (for expert hikers).

From Colle di Montegallo there is a longer loop, graded EE. It follows trail E15, crosses the east-northeast face of the Vettore and reaches the ridge between Il Pizzo and the Vettore. It is a long route, with more than 1,200 m of elevation gain, that takes a full day of walking. Another variant from Colle climbs trail 131 to the Fonte del Buon Pastore, a spring, then continues to the saddle of Monte Banditello. It follows the ridge over Sasso d'Andrè, Monte Torrone and the Vettore, then turns east to Il Pizzo.

The direct climbs from below, on the Pretare side, are a different matter. The trail is marked only in the first section, is exposed in places, and in the upper part you navigate by sight. These are routes for expert hikers.

When to visit Il Pizzo

The peak is climbed all year round, but the provincial road up to Forca di Presta can be impassable because of snow, especially in strong wind. Before setting out, check the weather and road conditions. The final ridge is narrow with steep walls: it calls for care and sure footing.

What to see near Il Pizzo

Il Pizzo is a natural stop on a climb of Monte Vettore, the highest peak of the Sibillini. Along the trail from Forca di Presta are the Zilioli cross and the Rifugio Zilioli. Below the summit of the Vettore, at 1,941 m, lies Lago di Pilato, home to the Chirocefalo del Marchesoni (Marchesoni's fairy shrimp), a species endemic to the lake.

For an easier outing, there is the accessible trail of Forca di Presta, with a gradient always below 8%. For other high-altitude destinations, see Cima del Redentore, Cima del Lago and Cima dell'Osservatorio. The peaks of the Sibillini Mountains are described on their own page.