Costacciaro: Nature, Trails and History

Costacciaro is located in Monte Cucco Nature Park. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay here, you can consider whether to focus on nature and activities or on the town’s history. Monte Cucco, trails and caves shape the opportunities for outdoor activities; the mill, museum and churches offer insights into local history. This makes it possible to discover Costacciaro through a range of interests.

Natural Areas and Caves

Monte Cucco rises within the municipality of Costacciaro, reaching an elevation of 1,566 metres. The park’s landscape and natural environment include meadows, centuries-old beech forests, an extensive cave system of karst origin, gorges, springs at higher elevations and unspoiled waterways. The landscape therefore combines open and wooded areas with underground and water-shaped features.

The underground system of Grotta del Monte Cucco extends for about 35 kilometres and reaches a maximum depth of 922 metres. Caving activities are concentrated mainly in this cave, in the municipality of Costacciaro. If you would like to include these activities in your trip, check in advance what options are currently available; arrangements may change.

Trails and Outdoor Activities

Trail 280 connects the medieval village of Costacciaro with Monte Cucco. It was formerly numbered 24 and is also known as the “Sentiero del Beato”. Another trekking route is titled “Trekking al Monte Cucco – Da Costacciaro a Pantella” and starts in Costacciaro. The different route names and destinations can help you identify the trail information that best suits your plans.

The Fossa Secca gorge, close to the town of Costacciaro, is used for canyoning. It is about 2,000 metres long and has an elevation difference of 400 metres. The sports facilities in Costacciaro also include a BMX track open to everyone, where instructors from Cucco in Bike provide lessons.

The Sentino River also offers local opportunities: fishing is possible along its entire course within the municipality of Costacciaro. Fishing is subject to the applicable seasonal, method and catch regulations. So, alongside trails and caves, you can also choose activities in a waterside setting.

Local History and Architecture

The historic centre is home to a well-preserved ancient olive oil mill dating from the 17th century. It remained in operation until around 1960. The Museo delle Grotte e dell’Ambiente Carsico del Parco del Monte Cucco is located in the former Church of San Marco on Corso Mazzini. The mill and museum offer different ways to explore the history and surroundings of Costacciaro.

The Church of San Francesco was built around the middle of the 13th century and extended at the beginning of the 18th century. Its Romanesque-Gothic façade is made of white limestone from Monte Cucco. Its building history and materials can be considered together: the church combines several construction phases with a locally named stone.

The town’s religious history includes Blessed Tommaso Grasselli of Costacciaro, who was a Camaldolese monk and hermit. Together with the churches and historic centre, this tradition adds to the picture of a destination whose cultural themes can be explored alongside nature and outdoor activities.

Local Traditions

The Corsa delle Botti is a race featuring two barrels. They turn around an axle to which a drawbar is attached and are pulled by groups of young people known as “bottaioli”.

Another local tradition is Crescia. For this traditional recipe from the Costacciaro area, the dough is made by hand from flour, water and salt. This means that both a specific way of preparing food and a distinctive festival format are among the things you can discover when learning about the town.

Discover more destinations: Montepennino, Villastrada, Triponzo, Pitigliano, Scheggia E Pascelupo, Parnacciano, Limigiano, Colle.

For the broader travel overview: Perugia.