Pozze dell'Acquasanta: how to get there and trails

Where the Pozze dell'Acquasanta are located

The pools lie in the Sarnano area, along the Fosso dell'Acquasanta, near the point where it flows into the Tennacola stream. The area is just outside the eastern edge of the Sibillini Mountains National Park.

The stream, also called Fosso delle Coste, rises from high snowfields north of Castel Manardo, in the hamlet of Garulla. It marks the boundary between the municipalities of Sarnano and Amandola and, past the pastures, drops into the Tennacola in a series of falls. The rock around the pools is Scaglia Rossa, made of limestone, marly limestone and iron oxide, which gives it a brick-red color.

How to get to the Pozze dell'Acquasanta

The most direct access point is Margani. By car, drive to Sarnano and continue toward the Sassotetto ski resort. At the settlement of Margani there is a junction with a road descending toward Giampereto and the Abbey of Piobbico. Cars are left in a pull-off beside the junction, before the descent.

From there walk down the road to the first bend, where a sign marks the start of the trail to the Pozze di Acquasanta and the Cascata del Pellegrino. The stretch is short but steep, and on the way back the same elevation has to be regained.

The other option is to start from the Cascatelle dei Romani, along the Via delle Cascate Perdute. The walk is longer, but it follows a path through the woods.

Pozze dell'Acquasanta trails and hikes

The official route starts from the Cascatelle dei Romani, one of the three points linked by the Via delle Cascate Perdute. It follows a well-marked path through the woods, along old roads recently restored. It crosses the stream on a wooden bridge and continues to the pools in about an hour.

The route that also includes the Cascata del Pellegrino is 5.4 km long, with 186 m of elevation gain and a maximum altitude of 688 m. The stated walking time is 1 h 45 min and the difficulty is tourist-hiking level. Hiking footwear is required.

The last stretch is the most demanding. From the wooden bridge, turn right and climb toward a rock outcrop, where ropes help on the way down to the pools. The path is steep and overlooks the Fosso dell'Acquasanta, so it calls for great care. The rest of the route from the Cascatelle is fairly easy, except for the steep final descent.

The Cascata del Pellegrino is close by. After the footbridge a short path branches off to the left and in 5 minutes, along the stream, leads to the waterfall. Back at the junction, walkers can retrace the same route or climb to the Margani district on a very steep path. From Margani it is also possible to walk down the gravel road to the Via delle Cascate Perdute, near the Cascatelle.

The pools also feature on a mountain bike route. It is a long loop that starts from Pian di Pieca, reaches Sarnano and climbs to Garulla. On the return it passes the Pozze dell'Acquasanta.

When to go to the Pozze dell'Acquasanta

The water flow in the pools changes over the year, while the Cascata del Pellegrino is always visible. The look of the place therefore depends on the season. Before setting out it is worth checking the weather and the trail conditions, especially for the steep final stretch.

What to see near the Pozze dell'Acquasanta

A visit naturally pairs with the Cascata del Pellegrino. It is formed by the stream that comes down from Fonte Lardina, below Sassotetto, and emerges from a deep, high gorge in the rock. For details see the page Cascate del Pellegrino: how to get there and trails.

Farther downstream are the Cascatelle di Sarnano, linked to the pools by an easy, well-marked path. On foot it takes about an hour of walking.

The Via delle Cascate Perdute begins at Piazza Perfetti, in the historic center of Sarnano. The first waterfall along the way is the Antico Mulino waterfall, in the Piano area. For this stop there is the page Cascata dell'Antico Mulino del Piano: how to get there and trails. For a wider overview of the other falls in the area, see waterfalls of the Sibillini Mountains in Le Marche.