IT 2.07 CUCCO GROUP

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Park at the beginning of the Estate near its notice boards and the trail network.
Follow path 127 to the Abbey of San Cassiano in Valbagnola, probably built in the 11th century by the Lords of Chiaromonte. “Valbagnola” derives from Valle Bagnoli, meaning valley of the small bath. This area, in fact, is rich in excellent waters flowing down from Monte Cucco. Its three-nave Church is of notable historical and artistic interest, because inside it, the designer of the time managed to contain the elevated presbytery with a vaulted crossing accessed by a staircase of seven steps, and to its left, you descend to the crypt with an apsidal ribbed vault. The entrance is pointed arch, the rear apse is decorated with human and animal figures, very characteristic. (1,2)
From the Abbey continue left on path 127 (junctions with 127A to the right and 127D to the left) which initially runs alongside the Fosso Maggiore stream with an increasingly steep ascent up to Capo d'Acqua, from where paths 127B and 127C depart to the right. Continue always uphill following the signs.
The cart track now becomes a mule track which, climbing on the left, joins another cart track to follow on the left leading to a meadow which, after a left turn, leads to the grassy saddle of Chiaromonte Pass. (3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16)
Here passed a Roman road, Diverticulum Helvillo-Anconam, coming from Umbria heading to Sentinum and then towards the Adriatic. In this area there was a manor of the Lords of Chiaromonte from which the place name derives.
Go diagonally right up to the steep crest where path 235 (9) crosses; follow it climbing towards the steep rocky jump to quickly reach Sasso Grande. (17,18,19,20,21,22,23)
From here the view is truly remarkable stretching to the Adriatic Sea, the Sibillini Mountains, Monte Amiata, and Subasio.
Always follow the grassy ridge to reach Filetta Peak where there is the signpost and the watershed boundary marker of the Umbro-Marchigiana Ridge. (24,25)
Continuing now along a rocky and sharp ridge, you reach the saddle of M. Pratiozzo where on the right and barely visible, there's the signpost for 127A that descends to Cupo and S. Cassiano. (26,27,28)
Passing nearby M. Pratiozzo continue always on the ridge to the pass of M. Testagrossa, b.127E-281 (25), cross the cart track to climb towards M. Testagrossa and then M. Montarone keeping to the highest track to reach the fence of the transmitters. (29,30,31,32,33)
Always following path 235 (9) descend first on a dirt road and then into the short valley towards the well-known tourist center of Ranco Valley. (34,35,36,37,38)
From here return to the saddle between M. Pratiozzo and M. Testagrossa where take path 127E which starts on the left of the dirt road descending transversely on the grassy slope on the side of M. Testagrossa. (39,40,41,42)
At the forest, follow the signs on the trail among many pasture tracks, paying attention when you need to turn sharply right and continue until reaching the cattle shelter. (43,44,45,46,47)
Descending to the dirt road, turn left and continue along it for about 200 meters passing on the left a plaque commemorating the partisans fallen at Vallina in 1944. (48,49,50,51)
On the right starts a descending mule track; at the first junction turn left, at the second right, and at the third left until you intersect path 127A. (52,53,54,55,56,57,58)
Descending with this, pass nearby b.127C, then a water intake, and arrive at Cupo, a hamlet of the Municipality of Fabriano. (59,60,61)
Without entering the village, at the first houses, turn right and quickly return to the Abbey of S. Cassiano then with path 127 to the Estate parking (do not park near the Abbey). (62,63,64,65,66)