Chiaserna – Hiking and History

Chiaserna combines a hiking route with a church in the center of the inhabited village. CAI Trail 254 leads to the summit of Monte Catria; along the ascent, there are views of the Valle delle Patate. Sant’Anastasia has its own architectural history, and the ruins of Sant’Angelo Abbey are located in Chiaserna. The Centro Ippico Badia also organizes horseback rides.

Hiking to Monte Catria

CAI Trail 254 leads from Chiaserna to the summit of Monte Catria. Along the ascent, there are views of the Valle delle Patate. For planning purposes, you can distinguish three reference points: Chiaserna as the starting point, Monte Catria as the destination, and the Valle delle Patate as the landscape the views look out over. If you first look for the endpoint of a hike, it is Monte Catria; if you want to identify the landscape, you can also take into account the views of the Valle delle Patate. The information therefore answers two different questions about the same hike.

Sant’Anastasia: Architectural History and Features

The church of Sant’Anastasia is located in the center of Chiaserna’s inhabited village. In 1838, it was rebuilt in place of the nearby old Abbey of San Michele; a transept and a dome were added in 1911. This chronology distinguishes the 19th-century rebuilding from the later addition.

A transept is the part of a church building laid out across the nave, dividing the floor plan crosswise. A dome is a vaulted roof that shapes the upper enclosure of a space. The terms refer to different architectural areas: the transept concerns the floor plan, while the dome forms the upper enclosure of the space. Thus, two different types of structural addition should be distinguished for 1911.

There are three altarpieces inside. They are part of the church’s furnishings and add a second aspect to its architectural history: in addition to changes to the building, the church interior also has specific furnishings.

Abbeys and Horse-Riding Activities

The names San Michele and Sant’Angelo refer to two different abbeys. In 1838, the church of Sant’Anastasia was rebuilt in place of the nearby old Abbey of San Michele. The ruins of Sant’Angelo Abbey, by contrast, are located in Chiaserna. The two abbeys therefore have different relationships to the church and the village.

The Centro Ippico Badia organizes horseback rides in Chiaserna. If you are planning a ride, check in advance what options are currently available. The description published in 2025 mentions a horse fair in Chiaserna and gives May and October as the months when it takes place. A horseback ride is an activity, while the fair is an event with specified months. Check the current ride and event dates for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Case Bruciate, Montemaggiore Al Metauro, Ca’ Romano I, San Giorgio Di Pesaro, Montecalvo In Foglia, Montevecchio, Lunano, Ginestreto

Return to the main travel overview: Pesaro - Urbino.