Monti Sibillini & Monti della Laga

The surroundings of "Ascoli Piceno" are rich in landscapes and driving west towards Rome, you will enjoy of an itinerary along the "Monti Sibillini", or “Monti Azzurri” ( Blue Mountains) as Giacomo Leopardi depictedin “Le Rimembranze”, a mountain range which is part of Central Appennines and gives hospitality to many woods and medicinal plants.

"Acquasanta Terme", a pre-Roman village whose sulphurous water feeds a great bath in a natural cave, well known since the Roman Age.

"Arquata del Tronto" the only village in Italy which has the territory divided between two different National Parks: the "Monti Sibillini" National Park and the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga" National Park. In the “San Francesco” church of Arquata, there is a piece of cloth with a printed human body shape just like the “Sacred Shroud” of Torino. This shroud is not a copy of the original it is really an “extract”, just as it is written on the cloth itself: “EXTRACTVM AB ORIGINALI” and keeps an infinitesimal part of the blood of Jesus.This shroud was found by accident when restoration works were being done in the church, inside a golden urn in a niche in the base of a wooden altar.

"Forche Canapine" and "Forca di Presta" are two placet for winter sports. Starting from Forca di Presta you can reach the top of the "Monte Vettore" mountain and then, going down throughout the gentle slopes,the "Lago di Pilato" at an altitude of about 1500 metres.

Curiosity: The "Sibillini" are the “Magic Mountains”, where according to the popular mind, lived uneasy and mysterious presences, like the Sybil and the Fairy Alcina. “The Legend of the Sibilla”: An air of mystery surrounds the “Sibilla Mountain”, where it is said that an enchantress lived into a cave. In the full moon nights the legendary “Sibilla of the Apennines”, with her handmaids, went downstream to dance and to meet those needed an oracle…… They could know by the enchantress “human things” happened, about the present and the future! The “Sibilla” was represented in a fresco in the “Santuario dell’Ambro”.

The “Festival dell’ Appennino” is a tribute to the mountain and to its people through a rich bill of entertainment, excusions, meetings and tastings. From May to July the Festival of the “Nature”, “Sport” and “Culture” give us a unique experience to have feeling about the local “Piceno” places.

Sibillini Mountains on Lonely Planet

We invite you to discover the beauty surrounding our territory, which lies right in the middle of the Italian peninsula, you can set your exploration towards (at the very least) 3 Regions and 1 Capital City… The famous tour guide Lonely Planet vaunts the great beauty of Sibillini Mountains. (Lonely Planet Asia Unsung Italy Mar-Apr11.pdf)