Laghetto di Palazzo Borghese in Montemonaco: how to get there and trails

Where the Laghetto di Palazzo Borghese in Montemonaco is

The pond lies in the municipal territory of Montemonaco, in the province of Ascoli Piceno. It fills a wide karst-glacial basin at the foot of the rocky slopes of Monte Palazzo Borghese, which reaches 2,145 m and is part of the Monte Sibilla–Cima Vallelunga–Monte Argentella ridge. The "canale" of Palazzo Borghese is a gully that cuts into the left side of the Valle di Foce and joins it just past the village. It is the same gully that is climbed to reach the basin.

How to get to the Laghetto di Palazzo Borghese in Montemonaco

To get there, drive up from Montemonaco toward Foce, passing the hamlets of Tofe and Rocca. There is a parking area in Foce. Another place to stop is just before the village, after the short tunnel: here the car is left at the roadside, near a shrine dedicated to the Madonna. The pond cannot be reached by car, only on foot.

Trails and hikes to the Laghetto di Palazzo Borghese in Montemonaco

The shortest route starts from Foce, behind the church. It reaches the cemetery and continues on a service dirt road that enters the Fosso-Canale. From there it climbs the steep Canale along the old mule track, marked by stone cairns, to the basin of the pond. The route takes a few hours there and back, with a substantial elevation gain and difficulty E (hiking). In the first section of the gully there is a risk of falling stones.

After the beech wood the terrain opens up and the summit of Palazzo Borghese comes into view. In spring there may be tongues of snow, for which crampons may be needed.

There is also a longer loop, which climbs the Zappacenere trail (CAI 154) and descends via the Canale. It passes the Fonte Santa Maria and the fonte dell'Acero, two springs, and takes about 5 hours.

When to visit the Laghetto di Palazzo Borghese in Montemonaco

The best time is spring, usually April and May, right after the thaw. The pond lasts from 20 to 40 days, depending on the winter snowfall and the course of the season. By mid-June it is often already dry. With the arrival of summer only a stony field remains, so in summer there is no lake to see. For those who go in that period, the municipality suggests the climb to Monte Palazzo Borghese between June and September. Before setting out, check the snow conditions.

What to see near the Laghetto di Palazzo Borghese in Montemonaco

Foce is the starting point for many hikes. From here you can also go to Lago di Pilato, with about two and a half hours out and the same back, or toward Monte Sibilla (2,173 m), Monte Argentella (2,200 m) and Monte Porche (2,233 m).

In the village is the church of San Bartolomeo, already standing in April 1178. In the square stands a pyramid-shaped monument about five and a half meters high, dedicated to don Basilio Brunori. The other bodies of water in the area are described on the page about the lakes of the Sibillini Mountains in the Marche.