Distance: 7.2 kilometers.
Elevation gain: +/- 524 meters.
Type of path: a mix of trail and forest road.
Starting point: point indicated on Strada del Monte Subasio.
Family-friendly: suitable for families with children aged 8 and above, given they are comfortable walking.
Activity: trekking.
Highlights: the reforestation of Subasio (and its cork oak trees), the ruins of the Gabbiano settlement, the view from Sasso Rosso, Fonte Bregno (and its sculpture).
Accessibility: starting point accessible by private or public transport. The trail is not suitable for strollers. The terrain and width are always suitable for the use of a joëlette, although some steep sections require skilled and fit operators. After heavy rainfall, two short sections (a few dozen meters) may be difficult to navigate due to mud.
To reach the starting point, drive from Spello to Collepino (signposted: Monte Subasio); continue on Strada del Subasio, and after driving very slowly, about 800 meters from the last bend, you’ll notice a small clearing on the left where you can park. This is actually a forest road closed to vehicular traff
ic and marks the beginning of the trail.
If using a GPS, you can follow the directions to the starting point here
Once you’ve parked, you’ll be near the small lake, where you can easily find the cork oak tree.
For the first part of the hike, follow trail 356, which, once it intersects with trail 350/Francis’ Way, continues descending to the Gabbiano Vecchio settlement, which can be visited with a short detour.
Then, ascend to Sasso Rosso, where you’ll take trail 354 leading to Bolsella.
Trail 354 runs along a comfortable forest road until reaching Fonte Bregno (unmonitored water, and sometimes dry).
Next to the concrete water basin at Fonte, descend on trail 350, being careful not to accidentally take trail 360, as both depart from the same point.
Once inside a small basin, leave trail 350 and rejoin trail 356 (the same trail as the outward journey) to return to the lake and then to your vehicle.
Once in the car, it is recommended to continue uphill to not miss the view from Madonna della Spella (from latin specula, meaning observation point), an ancient Benedictine oratory, now a refuge managed by the CAI Section of Foligno.
This loop trail, of moderate difficulty, runs at a lower elevation and is entirely shaded by trees, providing an excellent alternative for both winter months (when the mountaintop pasture area is swept by strong winds or covered in snow) and during sunny summer days.
It also features several points of notable interest, starting with the small Lago della Spella, a natural reservoir formed in a sinkhole, now surrounded by a reforested fir wood.
On its shores, you can find a cork oak, part of an old experimental reforestation project, while in spring, you can admire the blooming of swamp buttercup.
Continuing on, you’ll reach the picturesque abandoned village of Gabbiano Vecchio, now completely overgrown with vines. In the 13th century, the village had more than 200 inhabitants.
The small, richly frescoed church was used for services until the 1950s and is now closed to help preserve what remains.
Then, you’ll ascend to Sasso Rosso, and from there to Bolsella, offering magnificent panoramic views.
On the return journey, you’ll pass the tiny, unmanaged refuge at Fonte Bregno, shelter in case of bad weather conditions, where you can admire the sculpture Acqua from the cycle linked to the Canticle of the Creatures.
