Capuchin Rings
Loop itineraries to experience the Way in a single day.
On the Cammino dei Cappuccini you can also walk a series of loop circuits. These are day itineraries that develop around the stages of the route, allowing you to leisurely explore the richness of the area: nature, history, spirituality, as well as art, food and wine, and local craftsmanship that often get missed in the longer stride of a pilgrimage.
These circuits let you savor the many-sided beauty of the Marche, offering a walking experience that is beautiful and accessible to everyone—ideal for those who want to discover the Way for the first time or add a moment of slow exploration to their journey.
Whether you want to dedicate just one day to discovering the places of the Capuchins, or add a moment of slow exploration to your pilgrimage, the Capuchin rings are a simple and accessible way to be surprised by the nature, history, and spirit that permeate these places.
If you would like to experience the loop with qualified guidance, you can also contact the guides from Marche Active Tourism and Passamontagna (Official Guides of the Cammino dei Cappuccini), who will be happy to help you plan your day and lead you along the routes with expertise and sensitivity.
Below you can download the tracks and useful information for each ring. Get ready to choose your route and start walking!
1 - Fossombrone Ring
Distance: 5 km
Ascent: 236 m
Walking time: 2 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
We are in the places where the adventurous history of the Capuchins began: the Annunziata convent and the Capuchin convent of Fossombrone. From the Colle dei Santi overlooking the Metauro valley, a picturesque loop itinerary starts. The path winds through gentle hills, vineyards, and views opening towards the Furlo Gorge, while the countryside and wide vistas extend to the coast, the hills of Fano, and the surrounding landscapes. It is a route immersed in places always inhabited and shaped by human labor, where nature and history intertwine at every step.
2 – Furlo Gorge Ring (Acqualagna)
Distance: 11.3 km
Ascent: 420 m
Walking time: 4 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
A pleasant circular route starting and ending at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Stelle. The trail runs largely along the Cammino dei Cappuccini and climbs gently up to Monte Veletta, offering wide and evocative views of Montefeltro to the north and the Apennines to the south, with the gaze ranging from Monte Catria to the Sibillini Mountains.
The Bosso and Burano streams flow through the valley floor, while at the foot of Monte Petrano, a view opens up over the town of Cagli.
The return journey involves climbing back up a short and striking gorge until it rejoins the Pigno – Monte Martello road, which leads back to the sanctuary.
3 – S. Maria delle Stelle Ring (Cagli)
Distannce: 10,5 km
Ascent: 287 m
Walking time: 3.30 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI scale)
Ecco la traduzione per questo itinerario panoramico, ideale per una guida escursionistica o una mappa interattiva:
A pleasant circular route starting and finishing at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Stelle. Much of the trail follows the “Cammino dei Cappuccini,” climbing gently toward Monte Veletta and offering expansive, evocative views of Montefeltro to the north and the Apennines to the south, with the eye stretching from Monte Catria to the Sibillini Mountains.
The Bosso and Burano streams flow through the valley floor, while at the foot of Monte Petrano, a sweeping view opens up over the town of Cagli.
The return journey involves climbing back up a short, evocative gorge until reconnecting with the Pigno – Monte Martello road, which leads back to the sanctuary.
4 – Cagli Ring
Distance: 10.5 km
Ascent: 287 m
Walking time: 3.30 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
From the ancient Capuchin convent, which stands above the city of Cagli, a picturesque loop route begins along the Bosso valley. The trail crosses mixed deciduous forests and stretches of Mediterranean scrub, offering panoramic views of the rocky walls and the blue waters of the stream. A pleasant up and down in the heart of Montefeltro, which leads us back to the starting point. At the convent, there is a refreshment point and simple accommodation for pilgrims, “Il Cantico di Cagli,” contactable at +39 347-54.42.535.
5 – Frontone Ring
Distance: 6 km
Ascent: 429 m
Walking time: 2.00 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
The route sets off from the village of Frontone and climbs progressively toward Monte Roma, passing through woods, pastures, and highly evocative landscapes. Constant panoramic views of the nearby peaks of Monte Catria and Monte Acuto accompany the journey as a steady presence on the horizon.
The trail features a predominantly uphill first section, while the second half of the route follows a gradual descent. Numerous stops along the way provide the opportunity not only to manage the physical effort at a relaxed pace but also to immerse yourself in the richness of the surrounding nature, observing the mountain landscape and biodiversity up close. In fact, it is not uncommon to spot fallow deer, a species now permanently established in these mountains.
6 – Fonte Avellana Ring
(Serra Sant’Abbondio)
Distance: 7.2 km Ascent: 441 m Walking time: 3 h Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
The itinerary starts from one of the most evocative and spiritually vibrant places in the Apennines: the ancient Camaldolese monastery of Fonte Avellana. From the monastic complex, the trail ventures into splendid mixed deciduous and beech forests, climbing up to the Balza dell’aquila to reach the cave of Saint Peter Damian. From there, it descends back to Fonte Avellana where, by arrangement with the monks, it is possible to participate in a guided tour of the monastery that allows you to discover its treasures, including the scriptorium, which tells more than a thousand years of contemplative life.
7 – Isola Fossara Ring
Distance: 5.7 km
Ascent: 382 m
Walking time: 2 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
From the historic Abbey of Sitria, the trail climbs towards the panoramic Monte Prati di Nocria, along the border between Marche and Umbria. The route, at times adventurous and challenging, crosses woods and paths immersed in the most authentic nature of the Apennines, offering magnificent glimpses of Monte Strega, Monte Catria, and the thousand-year-old Monastery of Fonte Avellana. Upon reaching the summit of Prati di Nocria, the panorama opens up over the surrounding valleys before beginning the descent towards the pass and then down to Maestà Confibio, flanking the Artino stream amidst dense woods and lush vegetation. The return to the Abbey of Sitria takes place comfortably along the panoramic road that leads to Isola Fossara.
8 – Pascelupo Ring
Distance: 6.3 km
Ascent: 326 m
Walking time: 3.30 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
From Pascelupo, a magnificent village nestled in the Umbrian-Marche Apennines, the itinerary ventures into the woods of the eastern slope of the Monte Cucco massif. Immersed in deep silence, the path crosses the Rio Freddo and then begins to climb towards one of the most evocative hermitages in the entire area: the Hermitage of San Girolamo, a place of refuge for the first Capuchins in 1526. It then continues in the dense and wild Valle delle Prigioni until it leads back to the village of Pascelupo, closing a loop of great scenic and spiritual charm.
9 – Fabriano Ring
Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 451 m
Walking time: 3.00 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
From the small village of Marischio, the trail climbs towards the panoramic Colle della Croce, then takes the nature path of the Monte Marischio Pine Forest, a pleasant route immersed in the woods with gentle ups and downs. The track continues with a steeper climb to the summit of Monte Serramaggio, from which wide panoramas of the Umbrian Apennines begin to open up.
It then continues along the panoramic ridge of Monte Orgitore, with splendid views of the Giano river valley and the Monte San Vicino range. After a long and evocative descent through the woods, you reach the track of the Cammino dei Cappuccini, which accompanies the return through the rolling hills separating Fabriano and Marischio.
10 – S. Maria dell’Acquarella Ring (Albacina-Cerreto d’Esi)
Distance: 9.2 km Ascent: 375 m Walking time: 3.30 h Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
Extraordinary panoramas, suspended between the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Park and the Monte San Vicino Reserve, will accompany this itinerary. The loop route leads to the Hermitage of Acquarella, where tradition places the first chapter of the Capuchins, following the paths that cross the Caprareccia and Monte Maltempo: a suggestive alternation of conifer and deciduous forests, shady and cool stretches, and wide luminous meadows from which the view can stretch from the Adriatic Sea to the peaks of the Apennines.
11 – Poggio S. Romualdo Ring
Distance: 8,4 km
Ascent: 364 m
Walking time: 3.00 h
Difficulty: T/E (Scala CAI)
Nestled within the Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi Regional Natural Park, this circular route retraces a section of the “Cammino dei Cappuccini” through an area of great historical and natural significance. It winds around Poggio San Romualdo, a mountain hamlet of Fabriano situated at an altitude of about 1,000 meters—a site deeply connected to the Camaldolese tradition, as it was here, in 1027, that Romualdo of Camaldoli passed away.
The trail crosses high-altitude pastures and woods, offering expansive panoramic views. Along the route, you pass by the Abbey of San Salvatore di Valdicastro, which sits in a wide valley surrounded by mountain peaks and ridges. The final part of the itinerary features a gradual climb that leads back to the mountain village of Poggio San Romualdo.
12 – Cupramontana Ring
Distance: 7.5 km
Ascent: 315 m
Walking time: 3.30 h
Difficulty: T (CAI Scale)
From the historic center of the village, the itinerary winds along country roads to discover a wonderful area: rare environments of hygrophilous hill forests, ancient springs, centuries-old olive groves, and the inevitable vineyards where the renowned Verdicchio is cultivated. Hidden in these rural environments are two ancient historical sites such as the convent of the black friars and the enchanting Hermitage of the white friars, the latter a hidden gem set in the sandstone rock present in beautiful formations. In this hermitage, the first Capuchins found refuge in 1526.
13 – Apiro Ring
Distance: 8,4 km
Ascent: 224 m
Walking time: 2.00 h
Difficulty: T/E (Scala CAI)
A pleasant circular itinerary that starts from the center of Apiro and descends gently toward Lake Castreccioni. Along the route, expansive and evocative panoramic views open up over the nearby mountains, dominated by the unmistakable profile of Monte San Vicino, while the Sibillini Mountains range can be glimpsed on the horizon.
The trail, almost entirely on unpaved white roads and country lanes, passes through a harmonious rural landscape of small woods, cultivated fields, and rolling hills. It features an evocative stretch along the placid shores of the lake, one of the largest bodies of water in the Marche region.
The only uphill section is encountered in the final part, along the path that gradually leads back to the historic center of Apiro, closing the loop with a final look at the surrounding landscape.
14 – Cingoli Ring
Distance: 10.5 km
Ascent: 216 m
Walking time: 4 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
This loop itinerary immediately delves into the dense forest of Tassinete, following a first flat and easily passable stretch. The trail then leads to the meadows of Le Piane, a natural terrace from which an extraordinary panorama opens up, embracing much of the region. After the descent, a second symbolic panoramic point is reached: the belvedere of the Christ of the Marche, a statue by the Marche sculptor Nazzareno Rocchetti. From here, continuing along the ridge, the path gently returns to the starting point, closing the loop.
15 – San Lorenzo di Treia Ring
Distance: 8.6 km
Ascent: 209 m
Walking time: 3.30 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
Starting from San Lorenzo di Treia, embark on a particularly panoramic and evocative itinerary that gently winds through the hills of Macerata. The path crosses a harmonious and luminous landscape, made up of cultivated fields, orderly vineyards, and olive groves that mark the slow rhythm of the Marche countryside. Along the route, the view continuously opens onto wide horizons: on one side the majestic line of the Sibillini Mountains, on the other the view that, on the clearest days, reaches the profile of Monte Conero and the blue of the Adriatic.
16 – San Severino Marche Ring
Distance: 5.7 km
Ascent: 233 m
Walking time: 2.30 h
Difficulty: T (CAI Scale)
A fascinating loop route that winds between the walls and streets just outside the center of San Severino Marche, an ancient city of art. The path touches its symbolic places: the main square, the Castle on the Hill, and the most hidden and characteristic alleys, rich in charm and history.
Outside the city walls, the itinerary reaches the ancient Capuchin Convent, a witness to centuries of spirituality and memory, including the passage of Saint Francis. From here, it returns to the starting point, Piazza del Popolo, unique for its oval shape and the prestigious buildings that overlook it.
17 – Crispiero Ring (Castelraimondo)
Distance: 5,3 km
Ascent: 173 m
Walking time: 2.00 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI scale)
A simple and pleasant circular itinerary that starts from the village of Crispiero and follows an evocative ridgeline path, offering panoramic glimpses of the valley below and the surrounding rolling hills. The route leads to the two ancient watchtowers, “La Fanula” and “La Guardia,” once an integral part of the Da Varano defensive system in the “Intagliata” area—silent witnesses to medieval history and military strategy.
Along the way, you can appreciate the small woods, pastures, and open vistas, with a trail that alternates between gentle stretches and light climbs—perfect for a relaxing yet engaging walk. The return to the village follows a section of the “Cammino dei Cappuccini” (San Severino – Camerino variant).
18 – Camerino Ring
Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 234
Walking time: 2.30 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
The starting point of the itinerary is the Capuchin convent of Renacavata, the first convent in the world of the Order, donated to the first friars by the will of Caterina Cybo, Duchess of Camerino. From here, crossing centuries of Italian Renaissance history, the path leads us into the evocative forest of the “first Capuchins,” where history and nature intertwine: between views of the Apennines, ancient buildings, and stretches of forest, the path winds until it closes in a loop. By contacting the friars, it is possible to visit the convent and the fascinating historical museum it houses.
19 – San Maroto Ring (Valfornace)
Distance: 9,9 km
Ascent: 648 m
Walking time: 4.00 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI scale)
A loop for three churches: the route sets off from the Church of San Giusto—a fascinating example of Romanesque architecture in the Marche—and climbs to the “Località Sasso” viewpoint, offering a privileged vista of Lake Polverina and Beldiletto Castle. Continuing onto the opposite slope, you enter a long valley nestled in an evocative forest, home to several Taxus baccata (Yew tree) stands from the old nature trail. Finally, the path reaches the meadows of Poggio della Pagnotta, where the small Church of Santa Maria Maddalena overlooks the Monte Fiegni pass, offering open panorami views toward the Sibillini Mountains to the south and the Camerte Syncline to the north.
The return journey follows a forest road, which you leave after about 1.5 km to conclude the hike at the Church of “La Pintura.”
20 – San Lorenzo al Lago Ring (Fiastra)
Distance: 6.7 km
Ascent: 262 m
Walking time: 3 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
A picturesque loop itinerary that from San Lorenzo al Lago follows for a stretch the Capuchin Way, skirting the small church of the Madonna del Sasso Bianco. The route offers splendid panoramic views of Lake Fiastra, which appears in its turquoise and deep blue tones. Continuing, the path ventures into the typical Mediterranean scrub, which with its essences, perfumes the air in different seasons. The descent gradually leads back to the lake: skirting its shores, you finally reach the starting point, harmoniously closing the loop.
21 – Piani di Ragnolo Ring (Fiastra)
Distance: 5 km
Ascent: 130 m
Walking time: 3.00 h
Difficulty: T (CAI Scale)
The itinerary winds through the wide and suggestive scenery of the Piani di Ragnolo, one of the most intact and luminous environments of the Marche Apennines. A place of great naturalistic value with high-altitude meadows, spring blooms, and open pastures. You walk on a vast plateau that opens like a true natural balcony on the Adriatic and invites contemplation. From here, the view embraces the northern slope of the Sibillini Mountains, with their gentle and mighty peaks, and extends to the Marche hill range, in a continuous play of depth and horizons.
22 – Sarnano Ring
Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 218 m
Walking time: 4 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
This itinerary combines a stretch of the Capuchin Way with the classic loop of the Lost Waterfalls Trail of Sarnano, leading to the most hidden and fascinating Pozze dell’Acquasanta and the scenic Cascata del Pellegrino.
The route offers an extraordinary variety of landscapes: starting from the historic center of Sarnano, to immerse yourself in the countryside of the Marche pre-Apennines, among meadows and woods, until reaching the unspoiled and wild environment of the small waterfalls, where water and nature create scenarios of rare beauty and tranquility.
23 – Montefortino Ring
Distance: 5.6 km
Ascent: 181 m
Walking time: 2.30 h
Difficulty: T (CAI Scale)
The itinerary starts from the picturesque village of Montefortino, at the foot of Monte Sibilla and at the gates of the Gole dell’Infernaccio, places always shrouded in an aura of charm, mystery, and legend. The path winds through mixed woods and large chestnut groves, crossing gentle hills that for centuries have seen the passage of shepherds and woodcutters, as well as the Capuchin friars, continuously marching between Amandola and the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Ambro — known as the “little Lourdes of the Sibillini” — which they have served since the late 19th century.
24 – San Ruffino Lake Ring (Amandola)
Distance: 6.1 km
Ascent: 90 m
Walking time: 2.30 h
Difficulty: T (CAI Scale)
San Ruffino Lake is an oasis of tranquility nestled between the hills of Smerillo and Monte San Martino, at the foot of the Sibillini. The loop itinerary skirts its shores, crossing serene countryside and allowing a visit to the splendid abbey of Saints Ruffino and Vitale. The dam on the Tenna River has created this corner of peace, a place rich in nature and stories. Along the route, you pass under an abandoned viaduct, enveloped by the vegetation of the old railway that once connected the coast to the hinterland: a stretch that offers the thrill of a small journey through time.
25 – Montefalcone Appennino Ring
Distance: 7.5 km
Ascent: 303 m
Duration: 3.30 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
A splendid itinerary starting from one of the most famous panoramic terraces in the Marche region. The route leads from Montefalcone Appennino to Smerillo, alternating between wide views of the Sibillini Mountains, stretches immersed in the forest, and a visit to the evocative Fessa di Smerillo, a spectacular natural rock fissure. The return passes by the convent of San Giovanni Battista, a place rich in memory: from here, in 1525, Friar Matteo da Bascio fled, an audacious and prophetic act that marked the beginning of the history of the Capuchin Friars.
26 – Force Loop
Distance: 9,4 km
Ascent: 389 m
Walking time: 2.50 h
Difficulty: T/E (Scala CAI)
The landscape surrounding the municipality of Force is an alternating tapestry of crops, small woods, and country lanes that vanish into the horizon. This circular itinerary develops on the western slope of the town, through the countryside where the hills gently slope toward the Aso River valley, offering evocative panoramas and rural glimpses of great charm.
Along the route, you encounter natural environments and traces of ancient history that tell of a rich and varied past, such as the centuries-old tradition of copper craftsmanship and the birthplace of Ernesto Verrucci-Bey—the great architect at the Egyptian Royal Court between the 19th and 20th centuries.
27 – Capradosso Loop (Rotella)
Distance: 9 km Ascent: 437 m Walking time: 3 h Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
Starting from Rotella, a charming village at the foot of Monte dell’Ascensione, this evocative circular itinerary explores the Tesino valley. The walk offers splendid views of the Sibillini Mountains range and, on the clearest days, as far as the Gran Sasso d’Italia massif. The first part follows the track of the Cammino dei Cappuccini, along ancient sheep tracks that climb through the Ascoli countryside with some steeper sections. Upon reaching the locality of Icone, the path deviates onto a trail through a striking chestnut grove immersed in a wild and silent valley. The climb finally leads to a wide panoramic meadow from which the gaze ranges across villages, hills, and the Adriatic Sea. From here, the route continues entirely downhill until the return to Rotella.
28 – Ripaberarda Loop (Castignano)
Distance: 6.2 km Ascent: 327 m Duration: 3 h Difficulty: T (CAI Scale)
A fabulous loop itinerary among the authentic landscapes and flavors of the Ascoli area. Starting from the village of Ripaberarda, the route leads towards Monte dell’Ascensione. The ascent along the ridge offers spectacular views of the badlands and a vast panorama, which at the highest point opens up to Ascoli Piceno and the entire valley floor. The return, through ancient chestnut groves and well-tended fields, immerses you in an atmosphere of tranquility and rural nature. A route that combines beauty, history, and harmony of the territory, perfect for those seeking a rejuvenating day of walking.
29 – Offida Loop
Distance: 9,3 km
Ascent: 374 m
Duration: 3.30 h
Difficulty: T/E (Scala CAI)
Offida, counted among “Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages,” welcomes pilgrims with the charm of its medieval alleyways and with the ancient art of bobbin lace-making, still alive in the hands of its craftswomen. From the Sanctuary of Blessed Bernardo (the Capuchin Convent) this loop route begins—walkable in a single stage—crossing the historic center through evocative views and sunlit squares, then leaving the walls to immerse itself in the silence of the countryside. The path winds through gentle hills and neat vineyards, offering wide vistas of the Sibillini Mountains and the Gran Sasso, until it meets the route coming from Rotella and heading toward Ascoli Piceno. A journey that brings together art, nature, and contemplation.
30 – Appignano del Tronto Loop
Distance: 7.6 km Ascent: 283 m Duration: 2.30 h Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
A loop itinerary starting from the town of Appignano del Tronto, winding through rural roads and fields, partly following the Capuchin Way. The landscape is typical of the Ascoli hills: charming gray-blue badlands, gentle slopes, and relaxing passages immersed in olive groves. The route is continuously accompanied by extraordinary views, ranging from the Sibillini Mountains to the Adriatic Sea, passing by the Gran Sasso massif and the mysterious Monte dell’Ascensione.
31- Ascoli Piceno Loop
Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 327 m
Walking time: 3.00 h
Difficulty: T/E (CAI Scale)
This evocative circular itinerary, located in the final stretch of the Cammino dei Cappuccini, allows you to walk part of the stage that leads from Appignano del Tronto to Ascoli Piceno, passing through the quiet rural hamlet of Valle Senzana.
The route winds through rolling hills, cultivated fields, and spectacular badlands, elements that uniquely characterize this corner of the Marche region. Climbing towards the panoramic Cima Colle, the gaze opens onto wide horizons that allow you to imagine the long journey traveled so far. On the clearest days, the panorama offers magnificent views of the Sibillini Mountains, the Laga Mountains, and the city of Ascoli Piceno, nestled in the valley floor between hills and mountains.