PARK OF TRABOCCO
The TRABOCCO Park is a naturalistic area rich in flora and fauna. It is at the foot of the Montecarotto hill and has the Fossato stream flowing through it. The area is located in the hilly fold that delimits the border between the municipality of Montecarotto and that of Poggio San Marcello.
The morphology of the territory, deriving from the close proximity to the hillsides, creates a hydrographic basin particularly rich in surface waters in autumn and spring. The stream runs for 9.5 km before ending in the Esino river, the main river course of the provincial valley. The luxuriant nature of the area is endowed with rare species of flowers, including the fern and the dracontea (Dracunculus Vulgaris).
The footbridges crossing the stream, the suggestive scrub wood, the widespread “lianas” make the route fascinating and easy enough for visitors of all ages.
The main route is wide and the first part can be covered even with baby strollers/pushchairs, the other paths are narrower and although more suggestive, are less comfortable to walk.
Inside the park, there are several paths that you can walk through to see the different points of interest as the old mill ruins, the waterfalls and the “selvettine”.
In particular, the ruins of the ancient mill testify that once upon a time the water, due to successive “overflows” and the passing through of waterfalls and bridles, fed the millstones of the mill, that ground the flour for the population of Montecarotto and the surrounding areas. It was a place of great importance in the pre-industrial centuries for the local population. It is possible to walk along numerous marked trails, including the Impietrata trail, an ancient paved path that connected the mill to the centre of the village and was used, with carts and oxen, to transport the materials to be ground.
Circular Trail “Selvettine – Impietrata”
After the 2022 flood (and with quite some effort!!!), we are reopening a trail inside the Trabocco Park.
The circular route “Selvettine–Impietrata” starts at the Contrada Fossato bridge (where you can park your car). A dirt road leads to the Old Mill (500 m).
From here, taking the path to the right of the unusable bridge, you enter the “Selvettine” trail. After 700 m, you leave the path to continue uphill across an open field (private property) until you reach a paved road (300 m); keep going uphill until you arrive in the village.
Cross it (choosing among different route options) until you reach a round fountain (600 m). Continue downhill along the paved road until you reach the start of a dirt road (400 m).
Here begins the “Impietrata” trail. After a few meters, the dirt road turns into a footpath which first descends steeply and straight, then with a series of bends, until reaching the Old Mill again (400 m).
The entire route (3.5 km, elevation gain 200 m) is signposted and does not present any particular difficulties, although some sections require caution, especially when made slippery by rain.