A quick and very easy stage, with little altitude difference, almost restful.
The gem of the day is the Colfiorito swamp and the suggestive abandoned boat that we meet there.
We head south following the asphalted road. We leave it after a few hundred meters and take the wide path on the left, which goes up (250 m height difference) the western slope of Monte Pennino, among black hornbeam woods. The direction is not always evident and you need to pay attention to identify the signposts. Once on a comfortable carriage road, we follow it along the hillside, on a slight slope. Then we turn right and descend decisively until we find the dirt road that runs along the wide valley floor.
We arrive easily at the built-up area of Colle Croce and we take the path again and, suspended on the large plain that extends to the east, we arrive swiftly in Coderone. We cross the village and exit it by the road, then take again the path on the right in the usual ups and downs, until we look out over the large and beautiful Colfiorito Swamp, entirely covered by reeds, in the homonymous Natural Park. Once on its northern shore, we take the cycle path next to the road to the left and circumnavigate the entire lake. Near an open space and a wooden shed, we are surprised by an old dredger (arrived from Lake Trasimeno), rusty and half sunk.
Finally, we arrive at the provincial road and follow it to get to Colfiorito, another village severely hit by the 1997 earthquake.
The Colfiorito Plateaus are a system of seven plateaus, created by the drying up, caused by karst phenomena or human reclamation, of seven lake basins. Water is constantly present only in the basin of the Colfiorito Swamp, while the others are often flooded in winter, but they dry up again with the summer.
Due to the uniqueness of its ecosystem and the richness of its biodiversity, the Colfiorito Swamp is a protected natural area. Particularly significant is the avifauna: in addition to the heron and the eagle owl stands out the bittern, a bird with a sound similar to a bellow, very recognizable even from a distance.
Archeology enthusiasts found a good match for them in this area.
Before the expansion of Rome arrived, these territories were in fact inhabited by the ancient people of the Plestini. The archaeological remains of the city of Plestia can be visited (located in a favorable position, connecting the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian areas), including the temple dedicated to Cupra, goddess of the Umbrian religion, venerated as the mother of the Plestines. On the heights that delimit the plateaus of Colfiorito, there are still the remains of numerous castellieri, fortified high-altitude settlements that date back to the centuries between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC. The most important is that of Monte Orve.
For those wishing to learn more, in Colfiorito there is the MAC (Archaeological Museum of Colfiorito), which collects interesting finds of the Plestine civilization, from its origins to Romanization, passing through the cultural contaminations with Etruria and Magna Graecia.
For more info, timetables and tickets, follow the LINK.
For those who are more interested in naturalistic aspects, there is the Naturalistic Museum of the Colfiorito Park, dedicated to the peculiarities of the nearby nature reserve.
For more info, timetables and tickets, follow the LINK.
Renowned are the Colfiorito's red potatoes, characterized by their compactness and excellent resistance to cooking (they contain less water than the classic white potato), even at high temperatures.
In the Umbrian tradition, they are used to prepare different recipes, from stuffed pasta to gnocchi to omelets. The sweet donuts with red potatoes, covered with sugar, are excellent.
Casa Religiosa di Ospitalità Emmaus, in Colfiorito. Tel. +39 393 600 9418
B&B Fonte dell'Aria, in Dignano (a few kilometres after Colfiorito, along the trail of the next stage). Tel. +39 348 015 3444
Starting point reachable by car.
Departure point reachable by bus, leaving from the city of Perugia with a change in Foligno and Nocera Umbra.
Here the LINK to check the timetables.
Starting point NOT reachable by train.
Va' Sentiero is a grassroot project, thanks to the spontaneous contribution oft housands of people.
Even the most complicated dream, a 7,000km uphill dream,
can be achieved... together.
Grazie!
