Article Gole dell'Infernaccio
Gorge in the Sibillini Mountains
The Infernaccio Gorges are natural gorges carved by the Tenna River between the Priora and Sibilla mountains. They are located in the municipality of Montefortino, in the Monti Sibillini National Park, and belong to the most spectacular gorges of the Apennine peninsula of Umbria and Marche.
Arrival to the competition
It is a popular destination for trips and hiking, probably one of the most popular in the Sibillini Mountains. With a relatively simple access road accessible to almost everyone, it also provides a wealth of natural attractions, with sweeping views of the Tenna Valley and the mountains above. The trip is ideal for hot summer days, as the path leads on the bottom of a valley sandwiched between cool and dark rocky gorges or immersed in green beech forests.
Waterfalls from a distance
From the parking lot, I followed the marked path down into the valley. Even from a distance, the roar of the Tenna River can be heard below us, and the free-falling waterfalls also add to the noise on the opposite hill.
Passage under the massif
After about a kilometer of gentle descent on the way down into the valley, where with each descending meter it gets cooler by a belt of degrees, we reached a rock massif from which water flowed along its entire length. Since the road continues under the massif, we had to run through this light and pleasant shower.
Over the waterfall into the gorge
Two tributaries of the Tenna river flow here, one spring below the hoda and the other is formed by a smaller stream, followed by the path deeper into the gorge. There used to be a bridge, but it was probably washed away by high water. So we crossed the river a few meters higher, over a low concrete bridge that playfully spanned the river. The view of the permanent massif, from which the water flows in fine drops like a curtain, is refreshing and dramatic at the same time.
Entrance to the tunnel under the mountain
A short distance above the bridge is the entrance to an artificial tunnel that runs under the mountain, making it accessible by car all the way to the hermitage of San Leonardo al Volubrio, which lies higher upstream in the mountains. Unfortunately, the tunnel is not freely accessible, so it is not possible to diversify your journey through it.
We went on this shorter trip just before sunset, so we already missed the visit to the hermitage. But otherwise, many longer, variable trips can be made here. The hermitage itself becomes a destination for continuous pilgrimage every year, despite the fact that an earthquake in August 2016 threatened its structure. The church, located on a hill overlooking the gorges, is the last legacy of an atavistic society based on pastoralism and forestry, now lost for centuries.
Along the river canyon
We continue to climb in the deeply incised canyon of the river. Sometimes the path leads over footbridges, where you can see the curves of the rocks.
On the way along the river
The terrain changes in different ways. Sometimes the path is a leisurely path along the river, sometimes it leads over wet slippery hills as it skirts the cascading roaring waterfall next to it.
The upper end of the tunnel
After overcoming a few steeper hills along the river, we returned to a more level part of the road. It also ends with a tunnel that helps to bypass this terrain that is less accessible by car. Our original plan was to go back through the tunnel, but unfortunately there is a grate on both sides inside. So we headed a little further along the river.
Towards the lake
We walked another half a kilometer towards the upper lake. We missed the turnoff to the hermitage, saying that it was already getting dark, so maybe next time. Unfortunately, after a few meters after the turn, the road was already blocked with a barrier, saying that it was under reconstruction.
Basalt rocks
We turned around and took the same route back to the parking lot. The whole route was about 4 km for us. For the fact that we had it as a quick stop before camping in the evening, it was a great experience. You can certainly spend the whole day here in the pleasant coolness and in the river and observing various types of rocks.
As an extra tip for those who would like to observe fireflies, after sunset you will see countless of them on the road and meadow when leaving the parking lot.
