Paesaggio Urbino
 

PILATO’S LAKE: THROUGH INTACT NATURE TO DISCOVER THE CHIROCEFALS

 

ONE DAY TOUR

Itinerary dedicated to the discovery of one of the most evocative destinations of the Sibillini Mountains: Lake Pilato, a high-altitude mountain lake, located in a glacial cirque between impervious and vertical walls immediately below the top of Monte Vettore, the only natural lake in the Marche region.

Surrounded by mountains and vast landscapes, accompanied by an expert guide, we will reach Lake Pilate to learn about its history and the numerous legends of which it is the protagonist. After reaching the lake we will continue the path along Forca di Presta: one of the most characteristic and famous mountain places in the province of Ascoli, deserving of particular landscape attention, as well as one of the access points to the Castelluccio plains.

For lunch we will arrive at the Mezzi Litri Refuge at about 1350 m of altitude. Here we will have the opportunity to get to know and savor a typical delicacy of this area: the “cacciannanze”: a recipe of the Piceno gastronomic tradition that takes us back to past imaginations, when the bread was made in the town’s common oven. The word “caccia-annanze” in the Marche dialect translates as “chased ahead”, that is, baked before the bread.

Once the lunch is finished, we will resume the journey and from the refuge we will return back to Foce.


ITINERARY DESCRIPTION

MEETING POINT IN FOCE: 8:00 am - Arrival by own vehicle. Welcome and presentation of the group and start of the itinerary to reach Lake Pilate.

ARRIVAL AT LAKE PILATO: 10:30 am - Surrounded by mountains and vast landscapes, the guide will tell us about the morphology and geology of Lake Pilato which is home to a particular animal species, the Marchesoni Chirocefalo, a small red crustacean, swimming with the belly facing up. We will also learn about the legend that links this lake to Pilate. We will discover how starting from the thirteenth century at least, the lake was a meeting place for necromancers who went up there to consecrate books of magic to the demons who inhabited its waters.

RETURN OF THE WAY ALONG FORCA DI PRESTA: 11.30 am - We will continue the journey along the road pass of the Umbrian-Marche Apennines of Forca di Presta which divides the territory of the province of Ascoli Piceno (Marche), from that of the province of Perugia (Umbria) . During the trek we will have the opportunity to closely observe the wall of the Arquatano side of Monte Vettore, which rises almost vertically, and the roughness of its rocky aspect.

ARRIVAL AT THE MEZZI LITRI SHELTER: 1:00 pm - Lunch will take place at the Mezzi Litri Shelter, a beautiful farmhouse that takes its name from the respective Vettore canal that overlooks it. It is located in a panoramic position and is surrounded by greenery, at about 1350 m. above sea level, on the east side, at the foot of the Monte Vettore. Here we will enjoy a pleasant stop and learn how to make the ‘cacciannanze’, a recipe of the Piceno gastronomic tradition. To accompany this delicacy there will be cold cuts and cheeses produced by local farmers and first courses made of legumes and seasonal vegetables.

ARRIVAL AT FOCE: 7.00 pm - After lunch we will leave the refuge at 3.30 pm to go back and reach the starting point, Foce.


 

INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION FEES

- BASE 2 PAX: EURO 145

- BASE 5 PAX: EURO 75

- BASE 10 PAX: EURO 50

- BASE 20 PAX: EURO 40

 

Criluma Viaggi

Any part of Italy is wonderful to be discovered, but there is one region that can leave you truly breathless: Marche. Our agency has unique features in our territory, we can organise travel according to the purpose: study travel, work travel, holidays, cultural travel, natural experience, shopping journeys, etc. We are also specialize in planning weddings and weddings travels in Italy or in our region taking care of everything from A to Z The famous guide Lonely Planet has ranked Italy 2nd in the top 10 most beautiful and fascinating places to visit, right after the evocative tour along the Silk Road, in Central Asia. Green hills, endless vineyards, beautiful beaches, enchantingwoods, cities of art and ancient villages are all around. Thanks to Criluma, you will be able to get to know cities that willsteal your heart, such as Urbino, an enchanting picturesque Renaissance village located in the north of the region, which still retains the atmosphere of one of the brightest periods for Italian art and culture, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the death of its most famous citizen, Raffaello. However, Urbino is just one of the many wonders that the Marche region boasts. Among the most popular destinations are the Frasassi Caves, near the town of Genga: an extensive underground system of karst caves where you can admire the gigantic sculptures created by nature, known as stalactites and stalagmites. Moreover, the beautiful Loreto, a religious and spiritual landmarkpar excellence, a Marian pilgrimage destination known worldwidefor its majestic Basilica. In addition, during the summer, the Marche coast offers countlessbeautiful beaches, where you can relax and have fun in the crystal clear water of the Adriatic Sea. Among the most beautifulattractions, there are certainly Sirolo and Numana, sitting in thepromontory of Monte Conero. The south of the Marche Region is full of breathtaking landscapes, centuries-old traditions, myths and legends. The Red Blades can be considered as the Grand Canyon of the Marche Region, one of the most fascinating and well-known places on the SibilliniMountains. A 7-km-long itinerary that will take you up close to see wonderful rock formations with pinnacles and towers. The area of the Sibillini Mountains National Park is defined by many as magical and wild: legend has it, in fact, that there lies the kingdom of the mythical Sibyl. The places across the border of the Marche and Umbria regions are rich in ancient myths and legendsas well, adding to the evocativeness of attractions such as the cave of Sibilla and Pilate’s lake, the only natural lake in the entire region. A unique habitat where many animal and vegetable species, nowhere else to be found, coexist, such as a small and rare crustacean, which gives water its typical reddish nuance. All around the Marche region there are companies that have produced food and wine products for centuries. Moreover, there are true districts of handcrafted products such as shoes in the province of Fermo, hats in the enchanting area of Montappone and then bags, tailored objects and furnishings in the Pesaro area. The food and wine and handicrafts of the Marche Region have always been renowned and nationally certified as products of Italian excellence. The Marche region awaits you with its culture, art, history, tradition, fashion, adventure, food and unpolluted nature. At Criluma, a national landmark for tourism based in the Marche region, we look forward for you to discover our region at its best.
Criluma Viaggi
Via Totti, 2
60131 - Ancona
 
0719945580 3926426897 info@crilumaviaggi.com www.crilumaviaggi.com