Springs and fountains of the Sibillini Mountains

Springs of the Sibillini Mountains: the map

To find your bearings, it helps to divide the massif into zones, each with its own water destination.

Upper Valnerina and Castelsantangelo sul Nera. The main town of the municipality stands a short distance from the springs of the Nera river, which are in the hamlet of Vallinfante, at the foot of Monte Cardosa, in a wooded area. Trails start from the area toward Pian Perduto, Monte Prata and Forca di Gualdo. This is the zone with the most destinations close together: the springs, the Cascata del Pisciatore and the Fonte del Lupo.

Ussita and Frontignano. The Fonte del Lupo is one of the classic routes of the Frontignano resort. Frontignano is in the municipality of Ussita.

Tenna valley and Montemonaco. The Infernaccio links the hills of Montemonaco and Montefortino with the basin of the Tenna springs. Another route starts from Rubbiano and follows the Tenna upstream toward its source, but beyond the second junction for San Leonardo it is currently closed to vehicles and pedestrians by ordinance of the Comune di Montefortino. On the slopes above Montemonaco there are also municipal water intakes, such as the Civitetto spring and the Grotte Nere spring.

Bolognola. The hike to the Fonte dell'Aquila starts from Bolognola.

Sarnano. In Sarnano is the Fonte dei Brilli, with a drinking trough.

For those who want to look beyond water flowing from the rock, the page on Sibillini Mountains nature gathers the other categories of places in the park.

Springs of the Sibillini Mountains: the places not to miss

Source of the Nera river (Vallinfante, Castelsantangelo sul Nera). The Nera rises at Vallinfante, a hamlet of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, in the Monti Sibillini. About 100 liters of water per second flow from the springs. After a few kilometers the various springs merge into a single stream, which becomes the river proper. The area has a parking lot, a meadow and tables, so it suits a stop even without a demanding hike. For more ideas for a break, see the page on picnic areas in the Sibillini.

A legend tells that the waters once flowed from two openings resembling an animal's nostrils. Another tradition speaks of the nymph Nera, turned into a river by Juno, and of Velino, who throws himself from the Marmore cliff to be reunited with her. The water of this area is described as light, with balanced minerals, and is also remembered for its diuretic effect.

The river then continues into Umbria. Near the locality of Ceselli it enters the province of Terni, where its course is protected as the Parco Fluviale del Nera (Nera River Park). Farther downstream the Velino joins it through the three drops of the Cascata delle Marmore, 165 meters high.

A route along the water. In the surrounding area a route has been laid out that takes in the Molini spring, an old water mill between Vallinfante and Castelsantangelo, the aqueduct intake, a 20th-century hydroelectric station, the bridge of the old water-powered sawmill at Nocelleto, the trout farm and the bottling plant. It is a concrete way to understand how much water has shaped the life of the village.

From the Nera springs to the Cascata del Pisciatore. The hike starts from the springs, leaves the farmland around the village and climbs gently into a valley of beech, hornbeam, maple, oak and manna ash. The route measures about 6 km round trip, with about 340 m of elevation gain, and is completed in half a day. The difficulty is T/E, from tourist to hiking level. As you approach the drop, the sound of the water grows louder and louder until the Cascata del Pisciatore comes into view. For other waterfalls in the area, see the page on waterfalls of the Sibillini Mountains in Le Marche.

Fonte del Lupo (Castelsantangelo sul Nera and Ussita). The Fonte del Lupo lies high above Frontignano. The classic route from Frontignano measures 5 km, with 276 m of elevation gain, and crosses a dense beech forest. It takes a few hours of walking and the difficulty is low (tourist level on the CAI scale). The area is home to Apennine chamois and red deer, and the view opens toward the southern side of the Sibillini and the valley of Castelsantangelo sul Nera. Full details are on the page Fonte del Lupo: how to get there and trails.

Fonte dell'Aquila (Bolognola). The route starts from Bolognola and is a walk of a few hours, with modest elevation gain. The difficulty is T, meaning tourist level.

Springs above Montemonaco. The Civitetto spring, used by the Municipality of Montemonaco, is reached by a trail that starts at a hairpin bend on the right side of the road, past the locality of Collina. The starting point is marked by a steel post driven into the ground. The spring is tapped and lies above a deep gully, in the direction of the Banditella hut. Except in periods of particular drought, the water flows from a concrete intake structure. After the spring, walkers can return the same way or continue toward the Scoglio della Volpe.

Fonte dei Brilli (Sarnano). From this fountain with a drinking trough flows water that stays icy even in summer, so cold that it is best to wait a little before drinking it when overheated. To reach it, walk a few meters down below the road, into the meadow.

Other less-visited springs. Among the routes dedicated to the massif's springs is the climb to Cima di Vallinfante from Macchie, which passes the Fonte delle Vene. Then there are the Ribotto and Fonte Trocca springs, near the Pintura del Ragnolo, described as little known. They are destinations for hikers who can navigate and who plan the outing with a map and up-to-date tracks.

Springs of the Sibillini Mountains: tips for your visit

When to go. The springs can be visited in every season, but the type of visit changes. High-altitude destinations such as the Fonte del Lupo call for more caution outside the summer months. Low-lying ones, such as the Nera springs, are easy to reach. Flow and the presence of water can vary: at the Civitetto spring, for example, there is water except during periods of severe drought.

How to plan the day. The Nera springs pair well with the walk to the Cascata del Pisciatore, for a half day. The Fonte del Lupo takes more time and is best tackled in the morning. Those traveling with children or looking for a quiet stop can rest on the meadow at the Nera springs.

What to bring. For the Fonte del Lupo the recommended kit is hiking shoes, even low-cut ones, at least 1.5 liters of water, a rain jacket, a warm layer, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a snack. The same common-sense rules apply to the other hikes: check the weather before setting out and bring water from home, because not every spring has water at all times.

Access and site conditions. The historic center of Castelsantangelo sul Nera was destroyed by the 2016 earthquake. Before setting out it is wise to check with the Park offices. Any access restrictions on trails must be respected. For the less-traveled routes, such as those to the Ribotto and Trocca springs, up-to-date maps and good navigation skills are needed.

To round out the day, the page on gorges and valleys of the Sibillini describes other water landscapes in the park, such as the Infernaccio and Ambro gorges.