Along the Via Lauretana

Distance: 13 km -
Travel time: 2h 45
Difficulty: 1
The pilgrimage begins at Saint Peter's gate (14th century), set in the south-western access to the city of Assisi. As soon as you cross the passage, turn left onto the Porta Saint Peter's square and arrive in Piazza Bonghi. Continuing in via Frate Elia you arrive in Saint Francis's square. Turning right into Saint Francis street, the medieval street Superba that connects with Piazza del Comune, after 120 m from the end of the ramp you will find the loggia of the Comacini Masters on the left. On the opposite side there is Pellegrini's oratory, built in 1457 as a hospital chapel held by the Confraternity of Saints Giacomo and Antonio Abate. After 90 m you can see the portico of Monte Frumentario, with its seven lowered arches, on the site of the oldest public hospital in the city, founded in 1267. After passing the seminary arch, you enter the city, which has got Roman origins; in the 1700s the nearby Benedictine monastery of Sant'Angelo di Panzo (1270) was converted into a bishop's seminary, which you can see on the right. The road, which changes its name to via Fortini, passes the piazzetta Verdi with the Metastasio theater (1836) and following a pre-existing Roman route, it joins via Giotto and continues on via Portica, at the end of which the source of Saint Niccolò is located. , rebuilt in 1926. Proceed then through the Piazza del Comune, leaving on the left the thirteenth-century Torre del Popolo with the Palazzo del Capitano (1282) and the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, built on the structures of a temple from the first century BC; then you pass between the fountain of the three lions and the Palazzo dei Priori (1275-1493), on the right, thus entering Corso Mazzini. Turning immediately on the left you can quickly reach the New church, built in 1615 on the paternal house of Saint Francis, financialized by Philip III king of Spain. Walking along Corso Mazzini instead, you pass through Saint Giorgio's door, a medieval construction in the same place of an older Roman door, then you continue along through Saint Clare's street, enlarged and bricked up in the 14th century, reaching the homonymous square in front of the Basilica
From Assisi to Spello: After passing through the Porta Nuova, after 55 m, take the SS 444 road on the right; when you arrive at the roundabout, go straight into via Madonna dell'Olivo which you travel for 230 m, then take via Saint Benedict on the left. When the road, after the sports facilities, doubles, take the right turn that after 590 m intersects via Fosso delle Carceri and continues beyond. At the second crossroads, taking the left, you can connect with the Provincial road 251 and reach the abbey of Saint Benedict in Subasio in 2.7 km on the right. If you continue, instead, on via Borghetaccio, cross via San Vitale and enter via Fonte l'Abate then keep left at the first crossroads, respectively central, left and central again at the following three trivi, then left again at the next crossroads.
After 1.0 km, when the road has taken the toponym of via del Gabbiano, you reach a large rural building complex, after which you turn right after 90 m, again in via del Gabbiano, then to the left at the junction that follows. The path winds its way southwards, then merges into via Renano, becoming more linear until it joins via degli Ulivi which you take on the left, entering the city of Spello. Skirting Mount Subasio for 3.00 km, you arrive at the intersection with via Poeta which you take to the left and with which you will soon reach the Montanara gate, which leads to the town.

Difficulty Level: Difficult
Total ascent: 1146 mt
Total descent: 668 mt
Max altitude: 892 mt
Min altitude: 234 mt
After breakfast, departure for the city of Colfiorito, a mountain hamlet in the province of Foligno (PG), a town known for the early Christian basilica of Santa Maria di Pistia and the characteristic Convent of Brogliano.
Before departure, it is recommended to equip yourself with bottles of water as there are no fountains for refreshment along the way. The difficulty level is high because the path is uphill and the road is paved only in the initial part. In the stretch between Belfiore and Colfiorito, you can admire a picturesque waterfall passing through a rather difficult stretch recommended only for trekking experts. Part of the route is not traced, so you will pass through the olive trees, but with the help of the GPS with the data already loaded you can easily identify the exact stretch. Before arriving in Colfiorito we will pass through a village called Pale. Arrival and accommodation at the chosen facility.

Difficulty Level: Medium
Total ascent: 301 meters
Total descent: 615 meters
Max altitude: 778 mt
Min altitude: 458 mt

From Colfiorito to Serravalle del Chienti: from the church of Santa Maria Assunta near Colfiorito you must take via Valle Verde, which runs along the right side of the temple, then passes between the houses, and then merges into the Provincial road 96, with which in 1 , 15 km you arrive at the basilica of Pistia, a border sanctuary between Umbria and the Marche. From here continue along the Provincial 96 up to the hamlet of Taverne which you cross by entering, on the left, into the Provincial road 50 which then continues parallel to the Foligno-Civitanova Marche freeway. After the village, after 3.15 km the track joins the state road 77 which you take to the right and follow carefully for 720 m, after which you enter, right again, in via XXV Aprile which goes down to the hamlet of Castello. After passing the church of Saints Martino and Mauro, carefully return to Statale 77, again on the right side, for another 390 m, and then turn to the left onto via I Maggio which, after a while, intersects the Statale and merges into via Vittorio Veneto, winding along the center of Serravalle del Chienti, up to piazza Federici, from which via Santa Lucia branches off, with which you go up to the homonymous church.
From Serravalle del Chienti to Muccia: walk along Via Santa Lucia in all its length, thus descending to the Ospedaletto, or hospice for pilgrims that is active since the 13th century, which you find at the entrance to Corso Leopardi. At the following crossroads, take via IV Novembre on the left, then via Piave with which you exit the town, then turn to the right, passing around the yellow house, then left into the tree-lined avenue, parallel to the Statale 77 on which you enter after 610 m , in the direction of Macerata, crossing the hamlets of Bavareto and Gelagna Bassa where a grain mill was active until the 1950s, attested since the 17th century, but probably dating back to the 15th century. After the latter, in 990 m you reach the junction with a dirt road, which you take to the left and which, walking for another 2.25 km, climbs to the sanctuary of the Madonna di Col de Venti, in the Municipality of Muccia. From here, walking along the road for 1.45 km, you will reach the hermitage of Beato Rizzerio where you will spend the night.

** it is possible to make this stage also passing through Pievetorina instead of Camerino
Average speed: 4.0 km / h
Minimum height: 250 m
Maximum height: 655 m
Accumulated ascent: 855 m
Accumulated descent: 967 m

From Muccia to Pontelatrave:
In Muccia, walk along Piazza della Vittoria to the water mill where you cross the stream and go up the flight of iron stairs to the sidewalk at the level of the SP 256, then cross the intersection with the SS 77. Take the road that goes to the south, it will lead you to the crossroads between Via Papa Giovanni XXIII and Via della Piane which you take on the left; following the path, you first enter the hamlet of Varano, then Giove, then cross the SP 209 to enter a dirt road, leaving it when it turns right, towards the villa della Maddalena: instead, taking the path on the left you arrive in 1.20 km to the convent of San Francesco di Pontelatrave.
From Pontelatrave to Camerino
After passing the convent of Saint Francis of Pontelatrave after 320 m turn left. From here the mighty bulk of the castle of Beldiletto, an ancient fortress of the Da Varano family built by Giovanni in the second half of the 14th century, which Julius Caesar transformed into a residence in the 15th century, imposes itself on your gaze. After 280 m there is a Romanesque bridge: built in the 14th century on Roman foundations, it testifies to the function of crossroads carried out by Pievebovigliana, in the Middle Ages as in the modern age; in fact, at the hamlet of Pontelatrave, the various routes converged which, through the Apennine ridge, came from the south of Italy, passing through Norcia and Visso. Having now reached the intersection with the state road 77, on the right side, in the direction of Macerata, is the building formerly used as a post office, managed by the Cianni family in the 19th century. From here, after just 260 m on the state road, turn left and left again at the following crossroads: this is the shortcut to San Marcello, a small hamlet in the Municipality of Camerino, which you can reach in 2.80 km; however, the road allows you to skim the town without entering it. From the hamlet of San Marcello Go up in the locality of Cignanello up to the intersection with the Provincial road 132 which, with caution, take to the left and leave after 620 m turning right into the dirt road connecting with via Conti di Statte; after crossing the latter, continue on the facing via arano, then pass via Baudana Vaccolini and go straight along Borgo San Giorgio, also passing viale Seneca up to via Leopardi. Then turn left onto the Provincial road 18 which in 400 m leads you in front of the Malatesta gate, from which you access the historic center of Camerino.
In Camerino: Walking along via di S. Giacomo, you reach piazza Santa Maria then take via Pieragostini to the right, then left into via Lili; when this flows into via XX Settembre, turn right again into corso Emanuele II, touching the Palazzo Bongiovanni seat of the Municipality and reaching piazza Cavour. From the square, take via Veneziani on the right, then straight into via Ridolfini which takes you to the former convent of San Domenico going down the ramp that turns left and turning right at the intersection with via Betti. Here take via Antinori, the second on the right, which leads you to Piazza San Venanzio, which the basilica overlooks. From the square enter the Provincial road 18, heading north, up to the San Giovanni gate, after which, after 50 m, the Vicolo dei Fabbri opens up, slightly uphill, which winds between the houses and which in 70 m reaches the monastery of the Poor Clares, where the remains of Blessed Camilla Battista da Varano rest and where you can find hospitality.
From Camerino to Valcimarra
Continuing along the Provinciale 18, you reach the intersection with via Le Mosse which you take to the left; go straight over the first roundabout, then take the first exit on the right at the next roundabout, returning to the provincial road 18. After 1.40 km, on the left, you can take the road to the convent of Renacavata, on the place where it was previously located a domus hospitalis and where the Capuchin reform began in the 16th century. After another 625 m on the Provincial 18 follows another crossroads, with the Provincial road 22 which in 830 m leads you to the foot of the church of San Gregorio di Dinazzano where the sixteenth-century fresco of the Translation of the Holy House is preserved. Continuing instead in the direction of Macerata, after another 230 m, turn left the road to Piedilapiaggia, downhill, with which you reach the valley floor: about 2.30 km from the junction is the former hospital complex with the church, today private house, which Venanzio di Giovanni, hermit of Statte founded in the second half of the 15th century. After a further 2.70 km, the road joins the SS 77 at Campolarzo, a hamlet in the municipality of Caldarola. From here the itinerary coincides with the one passing through Polverina.
From Valcimarra to Caldarola
From the Madonna del Sasso descend towards Valcimarra Alta, taking left at the first crossroads, and again at the second and third. When the road merges into the tangent to the four lanes, you can turn left to reach the village of Valcimarra Bassa in 500 m, where the building formerly of the San Giorgio hotel, post house, remains; otherwise continue to the right, skirting the lake of Borgiano for 1.61 km, then at the crossroads take the central road that skirts the castle of Pievefavera, passing it, and then joining the Provincial road 502.
After just 300 m you leave the provincial road, turning right at the first crossroads, and right again at the next with via Rimessa which, after a wide bend, enters via Pallotta, at the foot of the castle of Caldarola; here you will find the collegiate church of Saints Gregory and Valentine.
From Caldarola to Belforte del Chienti
From the collegiate church of Santi Gregorio e Martino, walk along via Pallotta to the end; about half of its length, at the corner with via Durante, on the right, is the Municipal Theater. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II opens up at the next intersection with the Provincial Highway 502, overlooked by the collegiate church of San Martino and the sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte.
Once you have taken the Provinciale 502 on the left, walk to the roundabout, then take the second exit on the right, entering the Provincial road 7 which after about 2.30 km passes under the State Road 77 and, after another 640 m, intersects with Via Santa Maria , at the foot of the Belforte del Chienti castle. After crossing the road, take via Angelucci which you follow until the crossroads with via San Giovanni. Continue straight, in the small road facing you, which runs tightly between the houses, at the end of which you can continue along the short stretch of path; after 140 m this joins via Provinciale which you take to the left and which after two back turns takes on the toponym of via Scalette. At the crossroads then turn right into via Santa Lucia which soon brings you to the town gate of the same name, from the 18th century, after which in just 150 m you are in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II where the monastery of San Lorenzo delle Clarisse is located, in 1890 to replace the old one which, founded in 1648 and closed in 1861, stood behind the Town Hall building in Piazza Garibaldi where you pass another 40 m.

Accumulated ascent: 88 m
Accumulated descent: 212 m
Difficulty: easy

From Belforte del Chienti to Le Grazie
Leaving Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, turn right into Piazza Garibaldi, passing by the church of Sant’Eustachio, then you enter via Leopardi, touching the church of the Santissimo Crocifisso. When the road joins Via Principessa Margherita, take the stairs that lead you in front of the church of San Sebastiano.
From here it is possible to "cut" the grove via a short dirt path that flows into the road that leads to the underlying village of Santa Maria: after 217 m downhill you cross the Provincial road that you cross by entering a pedestrian path that cuts through the plot of land taking you in front of the parish church that gives its name to the village, otherwise known as San Pietro. Continue along via Ciappi as far as via Santa Maria, after which the road takes the toponym of via Loreto; 85 m before taking the bridge of the same name, with which you pass under the freeway, you will see in the center of the green area on your left the triumphal arch that the Community of Belforte erected in honor of Pius VI, traveling along the road Lauretana in 1782. Beyond the bridge it continues along the gravel road, until it resumes via Santa Maria. Follow the road for 1.50 km until the roundabout near the Le Grazie viaduct. Taking the second exit, walk for another 1.10 km until you reach the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
From Le Grazie to Tolentino
After just 205 meters, turn right into via Mattarella, the route of which runs along the lake, then experiences a sharp sharp bend, veering towards the historic center. Passing through the countryside, the road becomes the Pianibianchi district which runs parallel to the river, up to the Devil's bridge. After crossing the Chienti, take viale Filzi on the left, and again on the left via del Vallato at the junction that follows. At the intersection with via Osmani, which you take to the right, you reach the iron staircase with which you go up to viale dei Cappuccini, after which you enter via Adriana passing through the door that gives it its name. After 55 m, turn right into traversa Adriana, then left into via delle Caserme. Before arriving in Piazza Maurizi, on the right, see the church of Charity, attested since 1233 but more likely dating back to the 11th century, of which the main entrance portal is noteworthy.

Length: 33.71 km (6 of which are recommended by public transport)
Land: Not classified
Difficulty: Medium
Total ascent: 811 mt
Total descent: 739 mt
Max height: 414 mt
Min height: 128 m

UPDATING TEXTS AND NOTES:
- mainly asphalted ground;
- the first part of the gravel path between Colle Redentore and Divina Pastora becomes muddy in case of rain;
- you can get to the Abbadia di Fiastra via an access located near the Enel plant, walking along a rustic ground that becomes muddy in case of rain;
- it is recommended to travel the stretch from Abbadia di Fiastra to Macerata by public transport, thus bypassing a stretch of road of about 1 km with a high density of vehicular traffic. Tickets can be purchased directly at the Information Office in Abbadia.

The stage develops almost entirely in the wide valley created by the Chienti river; only in the last kilometers the climb to reach Macerata, located on the ridge, determines a change of pace and landscape. Follow the right bank of the river, less man-made, where unfortunately all the roads have been paved (there were large stretches of gravel road until some years ago). The countryside, tidy and well cultivated, is nevertheless crossed with pleasure. In the central part of the stage you have to deal with traffic, but you can move almost anywhere on the sidewalk or on side streets. The climb to Macerata takes place on secondary and little-frequented roads (however, you must be careful), with large shaded areas. Before reaching the outskirts, you cross an extensive residential area. The detour to the splendid abbey of Fiastra is worth the extra hour of walking it entails overall (net of visiting time ...).

Signs: red and white signposts of the Via Lauretana (signed "VF").

From the Convent of Saint Nicola, take via Bezzi on the left downhill and then via del Ponte, which leads to the other side of the Chienti river, across the Devil's Bridge. After the bridge, turn to the left, and then to the left again, on provincial 125, following the signs for the Fiastra's abbey. Follow the SP 125 for almost 6 kilometers, passing twice under and once over the four-lane road. Then turn to the left, following the signs for Pollenza station until you reach the junction which turns left onto the freeway. Instead, continue straight along a narrow asphalted road.
About 3 kilometers after the crossroads, take an overpass on the left, after which you reach the intersection with provincial road 78. Take the SP 78 on the left, paying close attention to heavy traffic. After passing the Chienti, continue straight ahead, both at the roundabout and at the deviation, reaching the state road 77 at the height of the town of Sforzacosta. Follow the state road to the right for less than a kilometer; at a roundabout, turn right onto state road 485 (towards Civitanova Marche and Corridonia). Follow it for about a kilometer and a half, moving onto via Giovanni XXIII, a parallel service road to the industrial area. At the end of the road (closed) you return to the main road (watch out for the ditch!) And continue eastwards; then turn left after 300 meters along the Pieve municipal road (road signs for Ancona and Villa Potenza). After a first uphill stretch, after about 700 meters, turn right onto the Corneto municipal road; after a first stretch of plain and downhill, the road winds its first uphill part, then merging into via Cincinelli, at the beginning of the town of Macerata. You then meet a roundabout, after which via Cincinelli continues downhill, passes under the railway, and meets via Beniamino Gigli, which you take to the right. Via Gigli climbs for just over 300 meters, until it merges with corso Cairoli. You go through it all, up to the roundabout of the Sferisterio. You enter the city through the monumental gate and via Fratelli Ciccarelli. Follow it to the intersection with via Lauro Rossi, which you turn right. Then continue along via Matteo Ricci; cross via Gioberti and take the pedestrian via dell’Erta, at the end of which you turn right and you will find yourself in front of the facade of the cathedral of Macerata and the end of the stage.

Detour to the abbey of Fiastra
After the crossroads, proceed for just over a kilometer, turning right and going up again in just over a kilometer on the provincial 125 which you take to the left. After about 400 meters, take state road 78 on the right which leads in 700 meters to the abbey of Fiastra, through a pedestrian passage on the left. Go back along the same road, but at the crossroads, continue right on the main road, re-entering the previous route in just over 2 kilometers.

Difference in height: 600 m
Altitude difference downhill: 770 m
Difficulty: medium
Bottom: asphalt

The last stage of the Via Lauretana has a varied elevation: a steep descent from Macerata; a tiring pass of Recanati's hill and finally a climb of the hill of Loreto: the flat sections are few. Instead asphalt is almost everywhere. On the hottest days, the combination of uphill and asphalt can make the journey very challenging. While crossing the town of Recanati and arriving in Loreto, however, you can benefit from pleasant stretches in the shade, as well as inviting reasons to stop in churches and historic buildings. Throughout the rest of the route, large stretches of well-cultivated countryside alternate with scattered houses and small towns.
Leaving Macerata, the variant to Villa Potenza repeats the initial route of the annual night pilgrimage to Loreto organized by Comunione e Liberazione. The other variant, leaving from Recanati, invites you to take the state road 77, the historical route of the Via Lauretana in modern times.

Signs: red and white signposts of the Via Lauretana (signed "VF").

From the cathedral (piazza Strambi) go down in via don Minzoni, which goes around the apse of the church, then turning right downhill and exiting the walls. Cross the ring road (if the underpass is closed, be very careful), taking Borgo San Giuliano downhill, which after 400 meters turns right into via della Pace. Continue downhill; about 200 meters after the parish church, at a small clearing, turn left into via Fonte della Quercia, which descends until it crosses via della Pace again after 400 meters. Cross the main road and take a small road (contrada Pace) which descends to the bottom of the small valley and crosses the ditch on a small bridge. After the bridge, continue to the right, skirting the ditch for about 350 meters. Then turn left into the Fonte San Giuliano district, which goes north for almost 2 kilometers. The road returns to the main road (Strada Provinciale Potentina), which you take to the right on a slight slope. After just under 300 meters you reach a crossroads, where you turn left (road signs for Montecassiano and Recanati) and quickly descend towards the Potenza valley floor. Warning! The traffic is not heavy, but the road is narrow and the vehicles pass quickly. After a kilometer of steep descent and another kilometer of plain, you cross the bridge over the Potenza and enter the town of Sambucheto, merging, through a roundabout, into State Road 77, which you take to the right. Leave the parish church on the left and, after about 300 meters, turn left towards the north, taking via Santa Croce (at the sign for the beginning of the village and the beginning of the municipality). After a little over a kilometer heading north you reach a crossroads where you turn right heading east (signposted for Santa Croce). The road continues more or less straight and flat for just under 2 kilometers. Immediately after a short climb the road curves 90 ° to the left. A hundred meters later, turn right, starting to take a dirt road that crosses a ditch and climbs in 2 kilometers to the Costa dei Ricchi intersection located right on the crest of the hill. Continue (signs for Recanati) descending steeply towards the valley floor (Fosso Ricale) and going up equally steeply up to the Passionist convent, which can be reached immediately after a crossroads.
From the convent, continue along via Passionisti, which you follow all the way until you cross state road 77 again, which you follow for almost 200 meters, turning left into via Le Grazie, which climbs steeply. At the end of the climb, continue straight along via Sweepstakes, which leads to via del Risorgimento. Take it on the right, then continuing uphill to Piaggia Castelnuovo. Cross via Monte Conero to take a staircase on the other side of the road, which leads to via della Residenza, then to via Falleroni, which you take to the left (turning right you reach Piazza Duomo instead). Continue for just over 50 meters, turning left into via Mazzini, which in about 150 meters leads back outside the walls. Cross via Cesare Battisti and continue downhill along viale Monte Conero. At the height of the convent of San Francesco, the downhill road becomes Via Loreto, which in 700 meters leads to a roundabout. Leaving a newsstand on the left with a crucifix, continue slightly downhill along the provincial road 105. At the first bend, exit the provincial road and continue straight (signs for Loreto). After about 2.5 km you will come to a roundabout in correspondence with a country church. Continue straight along via Brecce for just over 1.5 kilometers, then turning right onto via Impaccio, at a semi-bend. Via Impaccio goes up the hill of Loreto for one kilometer. It enters via Costa d’Ancona (29), which you turn right. In just over 100 meters, after a flight of steps, you reach via Brancondi, turning left towards Porta Romana. You then enter the center of Loreto, soon reaching Piazza della Madonna, the sanctuary of the Holy House at the end of Via Lauretana.

Variant from Macerata to Sambucheto to Villa Potenza (10.5 km)
From the cathedral (piazza Strambi) take via don Minzoni towards the west, quickly reaching piazza della Libertà. Continue along via Matteotti, via Lauri and via Garibaldi, until you reach Porta Romana. Continue along via Trento and via dei Velini, which descends to flank the Helvia Recina stadium and reaches the town of Villa Potenza, where it joins state road 77. Continue to the town of Sambucheto, where, at the roundabout, you return to the main route.

Variant from Recanati to Loreto along the state road 77 (7.5 km)
From Via Falleroni, cross the town of Recanati along the main street (via Falleroni, corso Persiani, via Cavour and via Calcagni), leaving the walls on via Venti Settembre. Then, following viale Dalmazia, via di Varano and via del Mare, you will arrive in about 2 kilometers to resume the state road 77 which you follow to the left towards Loreto. In just over 4 kilometers you reach the gates of Loreto. Going down the Via Brancondi descent, you reach Porta Romana in piazza della Madonna in piazza della Madonna.