• 10,00 Km - Cantarino (500m)
  • 10,46 Km + detour 490m - Casa Tartufo
• 16,01 Km - Bellisio Solfare (330m)
  • 16,01 Km - Elda Caffè
  • 17,00 Km - Santuario della Madonna del Sasso
• 21,62 Km - Bellisio Alto (490m)
  • 23,39 Km - Chiesa della Madonna del Vado
  • 23,41 Km + detour 360m Agriturismo Caricone
  • 26,63 Km - Case Bottaro
• 28,45 Km - Montaiate (610m)
  • 29,65 Km + detour 650m - Casa i prati dei daini
  • 30,88 Km - Agriturismo la Vecchia Quercia

From Cantarino (or from Doglio, backtracking 500m if you stayed at Casa Tartufo), the route begins to climb toward Monte Rotondo (known to locals as Il Doglio) via a forest track. Once the ascent is over, take the path on the right which leads down into the valley through a wild and scenic stretch, offering stunning views of the Monte Catria massif.

The path, which later turns into a forest road, descends to a stream bed that joins the Cesano River in the valley floor. Here, the landscape still bears—and will for years (or forever)—the visible scars of the flood from September 15, 2022.

You will find yourself between the steep walls of a gorge. High above, you can admire the Santuario della Madonna del Sasso, which you will reach after passing through Bellisio Solfare.

Following the path parallel to the Cesano River, you arrive at Bellisio Solfare, where you can stop for a meal at Caffè Elda (located a few meters toward Pergola on the right).

A quick tip: If you are hiking in summer, just before Bellisio, a 50m detour to the left leads to the Barzi Waterfall. Although significantly altered by the 2022 flood, it is still a great spot to refresh yourself with a swim!

Once in Bellisio, reach the small station near the main road. Following the trail alongside the tracks and then a wooded uphill path, continue toward the Santuario della Madonna del Sasso, clearly visible from a distance on its rocky outcrop. 
Note: The Pergola-Fabriano railway is currently used only for historic tourist trains (about 15 per year); more information can be found at https://www.ferroviasubappenninaitalica.it.

To continue the journey, backtrack about 100m from the sanctuary (where the road ends) and take the uphill path on the left toward Monte Romano and then Bellisio Alto, a magnificent viewpoint overlooking Pergola and the Cesano Valley. This section offers an alternative forest track to reach Bellisio Alto, slightly shortening the route (see the dashed line on the map); the fork is clearly visible in the middle of a large meadow. The main trail, however, reaches a scenic point with views of Monte Catria before continuing through the woods, making it the recommended choice for summer.

From Bellisio Alto, continue toward the Church of Madonna del Vado, turn left onto the uphill path, and finally reach Montaiate, with its thousand-year-old fortress and ancient cemetery.

Bellisio Solfare is a hamlet in the municipality of Pergola. Until the 1950s, it was renowned for its sulfur mining industry, which deeply influenced the economy and development of the area. The mining industry has left a lasting mark on the landscape, with structures and heritage sites that evoke the vital role this activity once played in the life of the community.

The Santuario della Madonna del Sasso. This is a small sanctuary built on a striking rocky outcrop. There is little information regarding its origins, but it is believed to have started as a Longobard fortress before becoming a hermitage for Camaldolese monks (from the nearby Monastery of Fonte Avellana). In 1710, it was restored and dedicated as a Marian Sanctuary.
Located a short distance from Bellisio Solfare, it can be reached in about 10 minutes from the provincial road via a gravel path that begins immediately after the level crossing. The trail leads here before continuing toward Monte Romano (to proceed, you must backtrack 100 meters to the small fountain).

Bellisio Alto is one of the best viewpoints along the entire Trail. You arrive here from the Santuario della Madonna del Sasso and continue toward the small church of Madonna del Vado, then onward to Montaiate.

Montaiate sits high among the hills overlooking the Cinisco valley and the road leading from Pergola to Frontone. The site comprises the village, the fortress, and the cemetery. Of the fortress (rocca) that towers over the small hamlet, only ruins remain—just enough to give a sense of its original structure.
Dating back to the 11th century, it was expanded in the 1300s by Cardinal Albornoz and again in the 1400s by Federico da Montefeltro. While the village was completely abandoned until a few years ago, most of the ancient houses have now been beautifully restored.