Distance: 4.44 kilometers.
Elevation gain: +/- 151 meters.
Type of path: unpaved road until the bridges, then a trail.
Starting point: Pian della Pieve.
Family-friendly: suitable for families with children aged 8 and above, provided they are comfortable walking.
Activity: trekking
Highlights: two ancient bridges crossed by St. Francis and the “bride’s veil” waterfall.
Accessibility: starting point accessible by private or public transport. The trail is not suitable for strollers. The terrain and width are suitable for the use of a Joëlette up to Ponte Cavaliero. Beyond that, the steep incline and narrow parts of the path require capable and trained guides. In the event of heavy rainfall in the preceding days, the muddy section at the beginning can make progress very difficult.
Access to the base of the waterfall, as the original infrastructure has been damaged by the passing of time, is reserved for experts and is not marked on the trail.
To park, head to the first houses of Pian della Pieve. Once you see a widening on the right (coming from Assisi), instead of continuing towards Gualdo Tadino, turn off the road.
Follow the side street to the first downhill junction on the left, where, near a concrete bridge, parking is available. Keep in mind that agricultural vehicles pass through the area.
If you have a GPS connected to Google Maps, you can follow the directions by clicking here.
The trail begins by passing under the bridge: immediately on the left, you’ll find the official signage for trail 362, which, with no junctions and mainly a slight ascent, leads to Ponte del Marchetto.
Reached the bridge, continue in the same direction, now you are following trail 351. Proceed for about 250 meters, and the Ponte Cavaliero will appear ahead, crossing the gorge of Fosso Caviato.
Here, if you are an experienced hiker and wear proper footwear, you can reach the confluence of the two streams.
To complete the hike with a view of the waterfall, continue up trail 351 for another 200 meters, then take the unmarked path on the right, which will take you to the waterfall in just a few minutes.
If you don’t have a map of the area, it’s important to return the same way you came. Otherwise, you can easily reach the higher Poderaccio by using trail 351, then descend the gravel road that leads to the parking area.
The trail, on a convenient mule track with breathtaking views, overlooks the Forra del Marchetto, a “site of precipitous cliffs” carved into the rock by the waters of the Tescio River, leading to the Marchetto (Pons luporum) and Cavaliero bridges.
In the Middle Ages, these two structures were crucial in the creation of what later became known as the Franciscan Way, connecting Assisi to Nocera, passing through the Castle of Satriano and the Rocca di Postignano.
Here, in the fall of 1226, the knights of Satriano surely passed by to bring the severely ill St. Francis back to the Porziuncola, where he had requested to die.
The descent into the gorge, also a destination for canyoning, is only possible for experienced and properly equipped individuals, but the view from above alone is worth the visit.
With a short extension to the trail, you can also admire the waterfall known locally as the “bride’s veil” (which may be dry in summer).
This waterfall is characterized, like others in Umbria and Upper Lazio, by the water flowing over a kind of slide formed by the petrification of a specific type of vegetation beneath it, creating a massive travertine formation.
The descent to the base of the waterfall, which is clearly visible from the trail, is only accessible to experienced hikers equipped with proper footwear.
