Discover Montefortino

Montefortino brings together traces of religious and civic history with a landscape that includes the Gole dell’Infernaccio and the Sibillini Mountains. As you plan your trip, you can explore a range of themes: art and collections, historic churches and hermitages, viewpoints, nature, and local cuisine. This can help you decide which aspects you are most interested in during your stay.

Art, Churches, and History

The Pinacoteca Civica Fortunato Duranti was founded in 1842, after Fortunato Duranti donated his collection to the municipality. Both the date of its founding and the donation tell the story of how the civic art collection came into being. The Museo faunistico dei Monti Sibillini, housed in Palazzo Leopardi, holds a different kind of collection: around 1,300 specimens of mammals and birds from Italian wildlife, as well as animals from abroad.

The history of religious architecture also stretches far back. The Pieve di Sant’Angelo in Montespino has been documented since January 977 and corresponds to the Romanesque church of the same name on Montespino. The Porta di Valle, also known as Porta di Vetice, is documented as early as the 13th century. At the Eremo di San Leonardo al Volubrio, its former use takes center stage: it was an ancient Benedictine priory.

The Santuario della Madonna dell’Ambro is associated with the traditional story of an apparition to a girl named Santina. According to the story, she was deaf and mute from birth. The Santuario stands at an elevation of 658 meters between Monte Priora and Monte Castel Manardo. The church has a ramp for people with disabilities. The municipal access information was updated on October 10, 2023; check current access conditions before your visit.

Gorge, Mountains, and Viewpoints

The Gole dell’Infernaccio lie within the Monti Sibillini National Park, in the municipality of Montefortino. The Tenna River carved the gorge between Monte Sibilla and Monte Priora. This setting places the gorge within a distinctive mountain and river landscape. Montefortino is also part of the Special Area of Conservation “Valle dell’Infernaccio - Monte Sibilla.” The 3,415-hectare protected area lies entirely within the National Park and also extends across Montemonaco and Castelsantangelo sul Nera.

At the entrance to the Gole dell’Infernaccio are the Pisciarelle waterfalls. They cascade down the slopes of Monte Zampa in a series of drops. The viewpoints offer a different perspective on the landscape: beside the Porta di Valle is a viewing balcony overlooking the Sibillini Mountains. The Vetice viewpoint offers views of the surrounding hills and valleys, the mountains, and the villages below. The sport-fishing lake near the town center is another named spot; it is fed by natural springs.

For those interested in a hike, the Eremo di San Leonardo al Volubrio makes a specific destination in the Gole dell’Infernaccio. The walk there takes about an hour. For organized excursions in the Monti Sibillini, CAI Montefortino is another point of contact: the association organizes trips in the mountains.

Local Cuisine

Two distinct dishes are part of Montefortino’s culinary traditions. Cucciole in porchetta is a traditional local dish. It is made with mountain snails, locally known as cucciole, as well as garlic, wild fennel, chili peppers, and peeled tomatoes. ’Ngriccio is a symbolic soup in Montefortino’s cuisine, originating in the rural tradition of the Marche hinterland. Both dishes add a culinary connection to local and regional traditions to your trip planning, though they tell different stories: one has its ingredients specified, while the other is defined by its character as a soup and its rural origins.

Discover more destinations: Moresco, Sant'elpidio A Mare, Magliano di Tenna, Monteleone di Fermo, Casone, Ortezzano, Lapedona, Rapagnano.

For the broader travel overview: Fermo.