If you want to take a walk in nature in Umbria, I recommend a place I truly fell in love with: the Monti Sibillini National Park. A heavenly spot, tucked away among the Apennine mountains.
The park stretches between Umbria and Marche, along the Sibillini ridge, and at its feet lie villages like Norcia, Cascia, Castelluccio and many other little gems set among the mountains. But the real treasure of these peaks is their natural beauty.
Do you love walking in the green too?
If you love nature you absolutely must visit the Monti Sibillini National Park, where, besides the landscapes, you can discover important pieces of history or enjoy outdoor activities.
Enough chit-chat: let me take you to discover the park.
Let’s go!
What to see in the Monti Sibillini National Park
As I said, the real treasure of these mountains is their unspoilt nature. Here it won’t be hard to come across cows, horses and flocks grazing peacefully in the meadows and woods.
Among the Apennines human settlements are sparse, and the meadows are home both to farm animals and to wild ones, who live here. Among them you’ll find wild boar, golden eagles, falcons, fawns, buzzards and the Apennine wolf, which roams the forests. The park is also famous for having successfully reintroduced the Apennine chamois, one of the rarest species of Italian wildlife.
But are there activities to do?
Of course! There are plenty in this area: from horse riding to rafting, from trekking to paragliding and hang-gliding, right up to winter sports when there’s snow. If you don’t have a car but still want to discover the nearby villages, you can rely on a guided tour of Umbria that takes in Cascia, Norcia and the Marmore Falls.
One important note: the violent Central Italy earthquakes of 2016 and 2017 hit these places hard (Norcia, Amatrice, Arquata del Tronto), damaging villages and trails; many facilities have reopened, but before a hike it’s always worth checking the state of the area you want to visit.
That said, I want to take you to two magical places I fell in love with: one for its history, the other for its natural beauty.
1. The boundary stone on the Monti Sibillini
The first thing you’ll notice, walking on the Monti Sibillini, is that you’ll often come across crucifixes and old votive shrines, which once accompanied the pilgrims’ path. But there’s another thing you should manage to spot: the old boundary stones.
What are they?
They are ancient border stones that divided the Papal States from their neighbours. The one I saw was placed in 1847 and marked the border between the Pope’s State and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (the old Kingdom of Naples).
Why do they matter?
They aren’t particularly beautiful or finely worked, but they’ll take you back in time, to when borders were still marked by hand, without technology. As you walk, keep your eyes peeled: they aren’t easy to recognise among the tall grass and boulders.
2. The pantani on the Monti Sibillini
Inside the Monti Sibillini park there’s a place full of charm where I left my heart: the so-called “pantani” (marshes).
If you think the name isn’t very inviting, you’re right. But the spectacle in front of you will leave you speechless, just as it did me.
OK, what are they?
In a green valley you can watch the herds move slowly, their bells ringing as they go to drink and cool off in natural pools of water. Every so often you’ll also see wild horses coming out of the forest to enjoy the fresh mountain air. To me it felt like a little corner of paradise set in the kind of green only these mountains can still offer: the ideal place to relax and enjoy the slow rhythm of nature.
How to reach the Pantani of the Monti Sibillini
The pantani are in the Forca Canapine area, between Umbria and Marche, not far from Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli.
By car you can drive along the Valnerina up to Arquata del Tronto, follow the signs to Forca Canapine and leave the car after the pass, then continue on foot. Bear in mind this is one of the areas most affected by the 2016 earthquake, so check in advance whether the roads are passable and whether the “Pantani” signs are in place.
The walk to reach the Pantani takes about 30-40 minutes and isn’t particularly difficult. Every season has its colours, so there’s no “right” time: my only advice is to arrive early in the morning, around 8, when you’re more likely to find the cows and wild horses coming to drink.
The scenery will take your breath away. And if this corner of the Apennines has won you over, don’t miss the story of Norcia and the Basilica of San Benedetto, a stone’s throw from here.
