From Fano to San Benedetto del Tronto

Moving further towards the interior of the Marche region, we arrive at Acqualagna, famous national site for the spontaneous production of the White Truffle, ideal opportunity to stop for lunch and taste the typical products accompanied by excellent local wines.

Continue towards the Furlo Pass. In the most remote times its name was Saxa Intercisa or Pietra Spaccata or Sasso Rotto, later it took the name of Petra Pertusa ie Pietra Forata. lovely place, a gorge in the mountains also engraved thanks to the presence of fractures and faults crossed by the Candigliano river, with its water of an intense emerald green, accompanies the motorcyclist for almost the whole step. The Jurassic rock formations that emerge widely in the Furlo Gorge and in the Bosso are rich in Ammonites, Cephalopod molluscs with a twisted and variously decorated shell that had an exceptional diffusion in the seas of the Mesozoic, gives 225 a 65 millions of years ago. The species that characterizes the Reserve is undoubtedly the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), present with a couple since historical times; its regular nesting on the walls of M. Paganuccio and the frequentation of the summit pastures made it a symbol for the protected area. It would be interesting and pleasant to stop for a short break and immortalize the landscape features offered.

A Cagli, next destination, pretty town full of monuments, located along the ancient Via Flaminia also famous for the presence of the White Truffle. The church of S. Francesco and the church of S. Domenico, both with classroom interiors enriched with frescoes. Among the civil buildings we must at least mention the fifteenth-century Palazzo Preziosi-Brancaleoni and the sixteenth-century Palazzo Tiranni-Castracane, in addition to the nineteenth-century Municipal Theater with a rich hall with boxes, refined example of "Italian theater", inaugurated in the distant 1878. A Roman monument of great importance is the Mallio Bridge over the Bosso stream, the Martiniano Tower which is part of an important fortification system, designed by the Sienese architect Francesco Di Giorgio Martini commissioned by Duke Federico da Montefeltro.

Still nice curves proceeding towards Pergola, town that has been included among the most beautiful villages in Italy, territory in balance between mountain and sea. It is part of a territory, the Val Cesano, which has hosted settlements since prehistoric times and traces left later by the Etruscans and Celts. To see the museum of Gilded Bronzes which preserves a unique and original historical testimony: a gilded bronze group dating back to the Roman age representing a family with two female figures, richly decorated knights and horses. If you want you can visit the Duomo, of the 1285, in Romanesque and Neoclassical style. and the Church of the Magi which takes its name from a painting by Pisano, the church of Santa Maria delle Tinte, built in the 18th century, from its strange "temple" shape, triumph of stucco and plaster, you can see it, from the top of a large balcony (what remains of the surrounding walls) overlooking the old wash houses, on the orchards and gardens of the houses below, and above all next to the placid Cesano river, maybe get off the stairs, to go and see it up close. A stop is recommended to taste typical local products.

A Sassoferrato, village of Roman origins, you can visit the municipal museum of the Cabernardi Sulfur Mine, the Abbey of Santa Croce di Sentinum and the Archaeological Park. Among the excavations it is possible to identify Roman roads, remains of the baths, mosaics, epigraphs and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the Marche. The importance of Sentinum, mentioned in all the history books is linked to a battle that changed fortunes and marked the unstoppable path of the Romans in the 295 a.C.

From Sassoferrato, continuing to Fossato di Vico, Castalda, Saint Gregory, Patrignano, Palazzo we arrive at Assisi, Of the passage of San Francesco (patron saint of Italy) and Santa Chiara remain small and large churches, miraculous places, crypts that attract thousands of faithful every year. In addition to the religious places where Giotto and Simone Martini left their masterpieces, Assisi has a beautiful Rocca, a rich Civic Art Gallery, an extraordinary Temple of Minerva and a spectacular Piazza del Comune. Then we are in Umbria, therefore there is a great tradition of hospitality and gastronomy with excellent products. There seem to be sufficient reasons to think about a visit to the Umbrian town that has played a fundamental role in the history of the world: A 4 km from the center of Assisi is the second church of Assisi linked to San Francesco. A 4 km from the center of Assisi is the second church of Assisi linked to San Francesco: is the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Porziuncola, the small church housed in the Basilica where St. Francis composed the Canticle of the Creatures built to incorporate and therefore protect some emblematic places in the life of the Saint. Here he has the vision in which Jesus gives him the Indulgence known as "Indulgence of the Porziuncola" or "Pardon of Assisi". A symbolic place full of charm: the Rose Garden with roses in which St. Francis rolls to fight against doubt and temptation. According to the story, the plants in contact with the saint's body lose their thorns giving rise to "Rosa Canina Assisiensis", which still continues to flourish only at the Porziuncola and the Transito, a stone room where the infirmary of the convent was located, where St. Francis spent the last days of his life.

After a day full and intense of emotions, you can’ stay overnight in the area, given the numerous accommodations available.

Our journey continues by crossing Rivotorto, Spello, we pass Foligno, up to the municipalities of Colfiorito e Ussita e Visso, areas sadly affected by the earthquake of 2016 in which the devastation is still evident. We are in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains, the fourth highest mountain massif of the Apennines, consisting mainly of limestone rocks, formed on the bottoms of warm seas, have buds that frequently exceed 2.000 m of altitude, as the eldest of the group, Mount Carrier (2.476 m s.l.m.), the Queen's Lace (the mount Priora), Mount Bove and Mount Sibilla. Straddling between Marche and Abruzzo, it hosts the National Park of the same name,

Still many curves at the foot of Mount Carrier, to Castelluccio to go into the Marche and Umbria, where it is possible’ admire the multi-colored Pian Grande during the flowering period of the lentils, and from here reach the Lake of Gerosa, an artificial basin that rises a 650 mt. s.l.m. fed mainly by the Aso river which descends from the slopes of the mountain down to the Adriatic. Canoe demonstrations, sailing and fishing are frequently organized as the generous size lends itself to accommodate these activities. Much appreciated also during the summer because of its beaches that become a destination for tourists who come here to enjoy relaxing days, good sun and spectacular views. A stop is a must to admire and immortalize the beauty of the place.

Continuing in the direction of Ilice we arrive in Comunanza. Of Roman origins, Commonality it rises along the Aso river. Archaeological excavations, near Colle Terme, show that the site was already inhabited in Roman times with the presence of spas. Moving from the mountains to the coast we head towards Cupra Marittima. The town belongs to the district of Riviera of the Palms of the lower Marche coast. Behind the marina, the country proper, there are three hills: Sant'Andrea with the homonymous fortress, recently renovated, Marano with the medieval incasato, which constitutes the main nucleus of the country, and Boccabianca. The Piazza della Libertà is significant, which still faithfully preserves the structure that the architect Vespignani gave it at the end of the nineteenth century, with the imposing staircase to the west, in function of buttress of the overhanging church dedicated to the Saints Basso and Margherita. Thanks to the project of the Sacconi instead, the elegant clock tower that dominates the town hall was built.

A few kilometers from Cupramarittima, on the state road 16 Adriatica is located San Benedetto del Tronto, last stop of the tour. Overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the quiet town of the Marches has become a real tourist pole that attracts many visitors every year thanks to the mild climate, genuine hospitality, good food and many historical and artistic beauties scattered throughout the area. San Benedetto del Tronto is also the true soul of Riviera della Palme, between the avenues and gardens of the city, the city waterfront is a true oasis of tranquility and well-being, then the beach, very long, blue flag continuously since 1999, the most important fishing port in the Adriatic and the seafaring culinary tradition that is enhanced with the famous brodetto alla sambenedettese, as well as being a great container of history, culture and traditions, a place to visit, enjoy and keep in the heart, where to spend the last evening and dine in a typical restaurant and taste local products.

Here you can visit the Maritime Museum of the Marche, which is located in the complex of the Sanbenedetta Fish Market and joins the existing Fish Museum and the Amphora Museum, giving life to the "Polo Museale del Mare". The last section of the museum complex is the Antiquarium Tifernum which collects numerous archaeological finds recovered over the years by the local Archeoclub, and ancient documents that tell the story of San Benedetto del Tronto and the neighboring municipalities from the Neolithic to the fourteenth century. One hundred and fifty steps and we arrived on the Terrace of the Lighthouse, a "climb" that is worth doing; from above you can admire the whole city and the surrounding landscape. This lighthouse is the most important and the most powerful of the stretch of coast that goes from Ancona to Ortona, it dominates everything from the top of its own 31 meters: a cylindrical tower that stands out towards the sky and projects rays of white light up to 32 nautical miles