Here is the route
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What you will see
At a glance
Up and down
Description
The starting point is the parking lot in the small village of Furlo, opposite the Furlo Nature Reserve information point and museum. You can also start from Acqualagna, a short drive away. The route is marked with signs reading "Anello del Monte Pietralata – 1."
After crossing the Via Flaminia, the climb begins, never seriously challenging, first on asphalt, then on dirt road. The first hairpin bends offer the most beautiful views of the Furlo Gorge and include detours to the now-abandoned pink stone quarries. As you ascend, the view opens southward, towards Acqualagna, and, further away, towards Mounts Catria, Acuto, and Petrano.
If you travel the route in May and June, stop at the Furlo refuge, at an altitude of about 600 meters. With the help of the many birdwatchers usually present, you can observe the famous Furlo eagle's nest, built on the steep face of Monte Paganuccio, facing Monte Pietralata. With a bit of luck, you may even see the eagle feeding her chicks (one to three), which are not yet able to fly.
Continue climbing until you reach the highest point, where you intersect with the path leading to the summit of Monte Pietralata. From here, the view opens onto the Metauro Valley and the long ridge of the Cesane Mountains, which stretch from Urbino to Fossombrone.
From now on, the route is downhill and allows you to enjoy the magnificent views and the meadows that develop on the upper part of Monte Pietralata.
Continuing down, you pass the church of Pietralata and the ruins of the castle, which dates back to the 11th century. At the time of writing, the ruins and church are closed to visitors due to maintenance work.
The descent ends near the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Pelingo. The original building, dating back to the 14th century, was demolished in 1781 following a powerful earthquake. On that occasion, the original image of the Madonna, which had been covered by another painting, was rediscovered. Numerous miracles were attributed to this image, and its veneration has remained popular to this day. The painting now sits above the altar, protected by a glass case.
To return to the starting point, continue downhill on the asphalt road until you reach the Via Flaminia, from which you can return to the village of Furlo.
Notable places
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