Ascoli Piceno is the beginning and the arrival of this hiking route between history, nature and landscapes, from the splendid Piazza del Popolo, jewel of the Italian Renaissance and one of the most fascinating meeting points in Italy. From here you move north through Piazza Ventidio Basso, home to the ancient city market, then follow the Roman bridge crossing the Tronto river. Once at the square of the municipal cemetery, continue along Via San Serafino da Montegranaro crossing the Caprignano and Casamurana districts, then arriving at the village of Mozzano. From the first houses of the village there is a grassy path that goes up to the old castle village. The old people of the village still remember the high walls of the dilapidated tower on the summit of a steep tuff hill overlooking the town. Unfortunately, we have little information about this; we know, however, that the castle of Mozzano was a castle of the first degree; sections of fortifications are still visible in the south-western sector, consisting of a stretch of polygonal curtain equipped with bomber and musket slits. Following the path that climbs on the hill you meet, immersed in the greenery of the bush, the small church of Sant'Emidio di Tronzano, with its simple quadrangular body built in sandstone blocks and sloping roof. The interior is very interesting, as it is considered a real sanctuary of popular devotion in the period between the 15th and 16th centuries. The walls preserve several frescoes in good condition, various panels bearing the effigy of saints commissioned by local owners for the purpose of intercession. Some panels also report the dating of the works (1488-1505) and the name of the client family. Then cross the town of Tronzano and take a cart track that offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Monti Sibillini range; from here you go down a path directly to the small hamlet of Casacagnano (Municipality of Roccafluvione), then you reach the hamlet Ponte Nativo located along the banks of the Fluvione, which here narrow to form a natural bridge (hence the name of the hamlet). The bridge already existed in the Middle Ages, mentioned in 1381 as a villa included in the area of castles subject to the city of Ascoli Piceno, for this reason we still find it today represented in the coat of arms of the Municipality of Roccafluvione.  From the hamlet of Casacagnano take a cart track that goes up in a northerly direction crossing a small forest, then you reach the hamlet Castello di Venarotta where there is the Convent of San Francesco, the arrival point of our stage.It is one of the first convents founded by the Franciscan order in Piceno. tradition has it that on this hill stood a temple dedicated to the goddess Venus; in the 8th century it would become a place of prayer and solitude of a few hermits; it can be considered that the hermits founded the convent to comply with the rule of the Saint of Assisi. Accommodation: Hostel San Francesco, B&B Cyparus, Agriturismo Tenuta Borgio, Il Casolare

From the colony of Ficocchia take a trail that crosses a dense downhill forest until you reach the hamlet of Uscerno (Municipality of Montegallo). From here you cross a small bridge over the Fluvione and take a cart track that goes up towards the town of Meschia (Municipality of Roccafluvione). Arriving at the village you will be impressed by these huge rounded boulders of sandstone that are used by sportsmen who practice "bouldering" (boulder climbing activities). Some houses of the village rest directly on the sandstone rock and can be reached via staircases carved into the bare rock! Regarding traditions, in this small mountain village, as in others in the area, the craft of the "coal man" was widespread. In fact, a small museum dedicated to coal mines has been set up here. After the lunch stop, take back the path that leads to the village of Abetito (Municipality of Montegallo). Accommodation: Agriturismo Casa Vecchia, B&B Il Castagneto dei Sibillini