Solitary Mount Subasio rises majestically between Valle Umbra, the Tescio Valley to the north and the Topino Valley to the east and its imposing mass overlooks all the surroundings.
The unmistakeable rounded outline of Mount Subasio, described by Gortani in 1904 as the “back of a tortoise”, makes the mountain easily identifiable on the Umbrian skyline and beyond. In fact, Subasio is a mountain relief isolated from the rest of the Apennine chain, with typical summit meadows on the main peaks of the massif. Its shape features a geological structure of special interest: its elongated NW-SE shape makes it look like a large letter “D”.
Mount Subasio’s summit has obvious morphological depressions of karst origin, the so-called sinkholes (dolines), due to the incessant, persistent action of water which, given the calcareous nature of the mountain rock, has moulded some impressive, imposing shapes in the landscape. The local name for these depressions is “mortari” for their similarity with the kitchen mortar.
A historic fact linked to the sink holes is the way they were used in past centuries to produce ice; the sink holes were actually used to collect the abundant snow that fell in winter. This was then covered with brushwood and soil to improve conservation.
In addition to its sink holes, Mount Subasio also has some very obvious, artificial holes used for the same purpose, and known as “ghiaccioni” or ice holes. Excavated in ancient times, they are still visible and should not be mistaken for natural sinkholes.
The massif and surrounding hills are criss-crossed by various hiking trails that offer the perfect opportunity to discover more about the karst aspects of the Umbria-Marches Apennine area and the deep ancient roots that form the strong bond between man and the land in this area. The paths are also a way of getting a really close look at the numerous naturalist emergences in the area and above all of coming into close contact with Franciscan spirituality.
Since 1995, an area of 7,169 hectares of the municipalities of Assisi, Spello, Valtopina and Nocera Umbra has been a part of the Mount Subasio Regional Park. Within the protected area there is a considerable biodiversity of flora and fauna, with some unusual endemic species, found only in this part of the Apennines.
For further information, please go to the website Destinazione Subasio, dedicated to the Park’s beauty and resources.
