Pizzo Acuto: How to Get There and Trails

Where Pizzo Acuto Is

Pizzo Acuto is a small summit on the ridge that links Monte Castel Manardo with Pizzo Tre Vescovi, via the Forcella Bassete. Administratively it belongs to Montefortino, in the province of Fermo. Some maps show it under other names, including Monte Acuto and Pizzo Senza Nome. Castel Manardo, the neighboring mountain, is 1,917 m high.

How to Get to Pizzo Acuto

The most common access is from Bolognola, in the Macerata area. Trail E5 starts from the hamlet of Villa da Capo and climbs via the Forcella del Fargno to the foot of Pizzo Acuto. Alternatively, the climb starts from Pintura along the dirt road toward the Forcella del Fargno, which in recent years has been open by ordinance of the Comune di Bolognola only on foot or by bicycle (besides authorized vehicles): before setting out it is best to check its status with the Comune. The Bolognola parking area lies at 1,345 m.

From the Amandola side, the E6 loop starts from Campolungo and passes over the summit.

Pizzo Acuto Trails and Hikes

Route E5 from Bolognola is about 6.5 km long, with 960 m of ascent and a time of about 3 hours 30 minutes. The difficulty is EE, for expert hikers. From the base of the summit, a short stretch of trail E6 leads to Pizzo Tre Vescovi, the old boundary point between the dioceses of Camerino, Spoleto and Fermo.

In the last part, from the saddle between the two summits, the route heads east along the sharp ridge. The path fades among sloping meadows and small rocks, then a rocky spur leads to the summit. The path is exposed in places and there is a short passage that requires the use of hands.

The E6 loop "Al cospetto della Regina" (In the presence of the Queen) from Campolungo, in Amandola, takes in Pizzo Acuto and Pizzo Tre Vescovi. It is 18 km long, with 1,490 m of elevation gain and about 6 hours 30 minutes of walking, again graded EE.

The north face is a separate mountaineering route. The slope is very prone to avalanches and the route is known for several fatal accidents. It is not a route for hikers.

When to Go to Pizzo Acuto

Trail E5 can be walked all year round, but in winter only when there is no rain or snow. The summit offers a fine panoramic view, so it is best to choose a clear day and check the weather before setting out. With snow and ice, the final ridge section calls for experience and suitable equipment.

What to See Near Pizzo Acuto

The nearby Pizzo Tre Vescovi is reached by a short stretch of trail. Monte Amandola, described on the page about Monte Amandola, has wide grasslands from which the view reaches the Adriatic Sea. Lower down is the Balzo Rosso, a wall of pinkish limestone towering over the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro in Montefortino. Farther up opens the Valle di Rinaldi, a glacial valley that the herders of Montefortino have always used as pasture. To compare other peaks in the area, see the page Peaks of the Sibillini Mountains.