Onelli – Hiking on Monte Meraviglia

If you are considering Onelli as a destination for a stay, the trails on Monte Meraviglia and to Monte Pizzo offer concrete starting points for your planning. The loop around Monte Meraviglia begins in the village, while the Grande anello di Monte Meraviglia starts at the Chiesa di San Sisto. Le Vaje passes the church and reaches Monte Pizzo. So the first thing to consider when choosing is which mountain and route you are most interested in.

Getting to Onelli and trails from the village

From Cascia, take the SR471 towards Onelli. Parking is available in front of the Chiesa di San Sisto; the church is at an altitude of 960 m. Check road and parking conditions before setting out, as both can change.

The loop around Monte Meraviglia begins in Onelli. After about 2.3 kilometres, the route joins the road towards Località Casali Sant’Antonio. Along the way, you pass old farmhouses and cool, shady forests. The details about the starting point, route and surroundings identify this loop as a hike in its own right.

The Marvia nature trail also branches off in Onelli and leads to Monte Meraviglia. The Grande anello di Monte Meraviglia, by contrast, starts at the Chiesa di San Sisto. From there, a steep mule track climbs over the northwestern slope of Monte Meraviglia. Le Vaje passes the church and reaches Monte Pizzo. Conditions on the trails can change, so check their current state before setting out.

The trail to Monte Pizzo leads to the lu Coppu meadow. From there, you can see the Monti Sibillini, the Monti della Laga, Gran Sasso and Terminillo. These four named mountain views give this trail a different destination from the routes to Monte Meraviglia.

The landscape of Monte Meraviglia

A 1,200-hectare wildlife protection oasis has been established on the Monte Meraviglia massif. The mountain’s landscape also has distinctly different sides: natural pastures lie to the west, while a beech forest covers the northeastern side. Together with the cool, shady forests along the loop, this creates a mix of wooded sections and more open pastureland.

The Grande anello is described in connection with Monte Meraviglia as a trail through a Natura 2000 site. This is another landscape feature to consider when choosing between the routes described. Trail conditions are also a practical consideration to bear in mind before a hike.

Rural heritage and panzanella

At the ruins of Casali di Tetella, you can see a small stable, a hayloft and old farming tools. The spaces and objects offer a tangible picture of the area’s agricultural heritage. This visit complements the trails and landscape destinations with a glimpse of rural heritage.

Panzanella is a traditional dish made with stale bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, basil, salt, pepper, vinegar and oil. There are various versions; one includes anchovies and onions. The Sagra della Panzanella is also associated with Onelli: on 16 August 2015, it included an evening of food and dancing. This date describes the event on that day and is not a current event date.

Discover more destinations: San Secondo, Monte Vibiano Vecchio, Carbonesca, Colvalenza, Castiglion Fosco, Camerata, Citta Della Pieve, Branca.

For the main travel overview: Perugia.