Trekking and Abbeys in the Vallesina

Departure from Fabriano for the Castle of Precicchie. Perched on top of a hill, it preserves a fortified medieval core, characterized by massive walls with windows and loopholes, arched doorways, and ancient defensive structures. At the center of the castle is a small square that opens onto narrow streets, offering magnificent views, stone houses, and the 13th-century Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. A beautiful walk leads to the Madonna della Grotta, a sacred and fascinating place nestled in the pristine nature of the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Natural Park. The Sanctuary is built right inside a natural cave, set into the rock. According to tradition, its origin stems from an apparition of the Virgin Mary to a local shepherd boy, and since then it has been a pilgrimage destination for all devotees of the Vallesina. The first real mention of this place dates back to a papal bull by Urban IV in 1372. Of the ancient structure, all that remains today are the ruins of a 15th-century fresco depicting the Virgin and Child. The sanctuary has undergone numerous renovations over the centuries, the most important of which was in 1958. During this time, under the direction of sculptor Ennio Gaoni, who authored the project, access to the cave was made easier with the construction of a wide staircase, and the beautiful facade topped with a small bell tower was built. Return to Fabriano, free time. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast, transfer to Genga, and a visit to the Frasassi Caves, a spectacular underground world characterized by a succession of chambers, tunnels, and small crystallized lakes.
Following this, you will visit the Temple of Valadier, one of the most spectacular and mystical places in the Marche region. The temple was built in 1828 against an enormous cave at the behest of Pope Leo XII, based on a design by the architect Giuseppe Valadier. The monumental architectural structure is octagonal and built of travertine in a neoclassical style. The temple is topped by a large, darker, lead-covered dome that reaches up to the rock face above. The temple was built on top of an older, pre-existing church but with a larger floor plan. For centuries, this mysterious and fascinating place was used as a refuge by the local population seeking a safe hiding place from looting, before it became a place of pilgrimage.
Next to the Temple of Valadier is the Hermitage of Santa Maria Infra Saxa, home to the Benedictine cloistered nuns who had lived on the nearby Monte Ginguno since 1029. Inside, a small altar holds a stone sculpture of the Madonna and Child, a sacred place of deep spirituality, revered by many pilgrims.
Not far away is the Abbey of San Vittore alle Chiuse, which stands out in the striking landscape of the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Natural Park. It’s a place of worship immersed in greenery, where architecture and the environment blend in total harmony, conveying a sense of deep peace and tranquility. The building’s facade features a cylindrical tower and a tall, quadrangular keep, architectural elements that give it the appearance of a fortress. The abbey was built by the Lombards towards the end of the 10th century within an “amphitheater” of mountains that completely surround it. It is said that the name “delle Chiuse” (Rave of Clusis) was attributed to it for this very reason, as it was “closed” among the mountains, as if they were protecting and hiding it. The Abbey of San Vittore delle Chiuse is a place to explore in search of tranquility and peace. Dinner and overnight stay.

Here is the English translation of the Italian text:
Breakfast, departure for the charming medieval village of Castelletta, which stands at an altitude of 600 meters and is located within the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Natural Park, at the foot of Mount Revellone. The heart of the village has an ancient feel, with small, low stone houses clustered together, interspersed with fortified and defensive structures, such as the circular watchtower called the Rivellino with its defensive machicolations and the adjacent palace of the Counts of Rovellone.
A nice walking path to take is the one that leads to the Hermitage of Grottafucile. Located about 3.5 km from the meadows of Castelletta, the Hermitage is an ancient, hidden place, immersed in the nature of the Gola della Rossa Park. Little remains of the ancient monastic complex: currently, you can see stone blocks, a half-wall with the entrance door, a vaulted ceiling, and some cells. It was built in the 13th century by the Benedictine monk Saint Sylvester Guzzolini, founder of the Silvestrine Benedictine order; following this, a small church in honor of Santa Maria was built in 1256, in the Italian Gothic style. Over the centuries, the place was abandoned, stripped of its most precious objects, and purchased by a local family. Since 1970, the site has been preserved by the Ministry of Education, which halted quarrying work, and by the Gola della Rossa Park Authority. End of services.