The Grande Anello dei Sibillini in Several Stages
In the Sibillini Mountains, between the Marche and Umbria, the Grande Anello is a trek of around 120 km that circles the massif in several stages. Grasslands, glacial lakes and mountain villages in a legendary range still little visited outside peak months.
Foto: dimitri.menecali (CC BY 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons
The Sibillini are mountains of legends, of sibyls and suspended lakes, yet they remain surprisingly uncrowded when compared with the Dolomites or the more touristy Apennines. The Grande Anello dei Sibillini is the best way to get to know them thoroughly: a long-distance trek of around one hundred and twenty kilometres that makes the complete circuit of the massif in several stages, linking mountain huts and villages through high-altitude grasslands, beech woods and silent valleys. It is a demanding walk, but within reach of anyone with strong legs and the desire to walk for several days.
The loop unfolds all around the group's main peaks, touching in succession a series of bases in the small foothill settlements and in the mountain huts. You cross places with evocative names and hugely varied landscapes: wide plateaus, grassy ridges, wooded slopes and valley floors where the villages lie. Each stage has its own character, alternating long high-altitude traverses with descents towards the villages where you sleep and restock.
Iconic places
The symbol of the Sibillini is Lake Pilato, one of the few glacial lakes in the Apennines, set in a rocky cirque beneath the highest peaks of the massif. Reaching it requires a demanding climb and a detour from the classic loop, but for many it is the heart of the whole experience, also because of the legends surrounding it and the tiny endemic crustacean that lives only in its waters. Another iconic place is the Piano Grande, near Castelluccio, famous for its summer blooming, though it is worth remembering that the village of Castelluccio suffered severe damage in the 2016 earthquake and the whole area is facing a slow reconstruction.
The 2016 quake left a deep mark on these places: some villages, huts and stretches of trail needed work and restoration. For this reason, before setting off, it is essential to find out the current state of the stages, the overnight stops and the paths from the Sibillini Mountains National Park and local facilities, because the situation can change from season to season. Tackling the loop with up-to-date information is a matter both of safety and of respect towards communities that are struggling to get back on their feet.
Getting there
Getting there: the Sibillini straddle the Marche and Umbria. On the Marche side the reference points are towns such as Visso, Ussita, Montemonaco and Amandola, while on the Umbrian side you climb up from Norcia and the Valnerina. Access is mainly by road, by car, since public transport links to the small mountain villages are limited; the useful railway stations remain far away, down in the valleys, and must be completed with local bus services. For a loop that returns to the starting point, a car left at your chosen base is the most convenient solution.
When to go
The best time is summer and early autumn, particularly June, July and September. In these months the high-altitude paths are generally free of snow, the huts and overnight stops are open, and the grasslands are at the peak of their beauty. June and September, at the edges of the season, are the times when the mountains are least crowded: you avoid both the more violent afternoon storms of high July and the heavy influx tied to the blooming of the Piano Grande, which concentrates many visitors into a few days. Walking in these periods you can cross the massif meeting very few people, especially on the more remote stages.
Practical tips
A practical tip: prepare your gear and logistics carefully, because at altitude the weather changes quickly and the distances between resupply points are long. Bring layered clothing, a good water supply, an up-to-date map and GPS track, and book your accommodation well in advance, as it is limited in the small villages. Above all, always check the most recent conditions of trails and facilities before setting out: the Sibillini reward caution with some of the most solitary and legendary views in the entire Apennines.
Practical guides for Como
Practical info
When is the best time to visit The Grande Anello dei Sibillini in Several Stages?
The recommended time is June, July and September, when it is less crowded.
Where is The Grande Anello dei Sibillini in Several Stages?
The Grande Anello dei Sibillini in Several Stages is located in Sibillini Mountains, Marche.
