Monte Pizzo: how to get there and trails

Where Monte Pizzo is located

Monte Pizzo belongs to the territory of Cascia. The Valle del Corno runs from the Ponte delle Ferriere, below Monteleone di Spoleto, to Triponzo, where the Corno flows into the Nera. In this stretch the river, which flows north, separates two groups of hills: to the east Monte Meraviglia, 1,392 m, and Monte Pizzo; to the west the Monte di Roccaporena, 1,149 m.

North of Monte Meraviglia, at the foot of its northern slope, lies Onelli, a hamlet of Cascia that was once a transit point on the old mountain road toward Monteleone and Villa San Silvestro.

How to get to Monte Pizzo

On foot, Monte Pizzo is reached from Onelli. From the village a path heads south, known locally as "Le Vaglie": it leads to Monte Pizzo and then continues toward Buda, Villa San Silvestro, Rescia, in the municipality of Monteleone di Spoleto, and San Giovenale, in the municipality of Leonessa. Along the road that leads from the church of San Sisto to Le Vaglie, about a kilometer from the village, stands the Madonna della Cerqua, a votive shrine carved into the trunk of an oak.

Trails and hikes near Monte Pizzo

Two routes dedicated to nearby Monte Meraviglia also start from Onelli. The Grande anello di Monte Meraviglia, marked 9a, starts from the church of San Sisto: it follows the paved road toward Cascia for about 2.3 km, then turns toward Casali Sant'Antonio and takes an uphill dirt road, the most demanding section. The loop passes near the Costabella farmhouse and Casale Tetella and returns to the church.

Route 9b climbs to the summit of Monte Meraviglia. It is largely exposed to the sun, has a steep gradient, and in some stretches the track is not obvious, so care is needed.

What to see near Monte Pizzo

Monte Meraviglia is a Site of Community Importance in the Natura 2000 network, with a wildlife protection oasis of 1,200 hectares. Above 800 m the slopes are covered with Turkey oak woods; on the summit there are natural pastures and a beech wood, and the view reaches as far as the Gran Sasso.

In Onelli, the church of San Sisto dates from the 14th century and has a Renaissance portico whose arches were later walled up. The waters of the Corno are still home to the river crayfish, now rare in the Valnerina, the brown trout and the white-throated dipper, while a pair of lanner falcons lives on the limestone walls of the valley.