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- info@cesiportadellumbria.it
- Cesi, 05100 Terni (TR), Umbria, Italia
Among the forests and pastures of the Martani Mountains, discovering the ruins of Sant’Angelo, an ancient Romanesque church immersed in silence and Lombard legends
In the Rivosecco area, along the ancient route that once linked Acquapalombo and Appecano to Pizzo d’Ajano, lie the ruins of the church of Sant’Angelo - a special and forgotten place.
What remains today is not much, yet it is more than enough to sense its former beauty: walls of pink stone crafted by skilled stonemasons, like those who built the Romanesque churches of Spoleto. The façade still preserves a fine portal with an arched niche, while the roof has collapsed and vegetation has overtaken the entire interior, leaning against walls now at risk of collapse.
The remains of this church, dedicated to Saint Michael, mark the central passage of a trail that climbs steadily and must be followed carefully, especially where - after the pine woods of Collegiacone - it turns left onto a path often dampened by a small stream of water. After passing the church area, the route continues uphill through woodland toward the Prata pass. Here, in a wide grazing area, hikers can enjoy sweeping views over the Valserra and toward the Umbrian Valley. The trail then continues until it meets CAI path 680, which descends gently through more woodland back toward the Valserra.
Legend has it that the Martani Mountains were once encircled by at least four churches dedicated to the Archangel Michael, chosen as patron by the Lombards, almost as if to place the entire mountain massif under Saint Michael’s protection after that of the ancient gods.
How to get there
The starting point of this trail is in the village of Collegiacone in the Valserra, a small valley separating the Martani Mountains from the mountains of Spoleto. Provincial Road 67, which runs through the entire valley, begins in Terni at Borgo Bovio. The junction with SP 67 (also known as the Val di Serra Road) lies along Via Tre Venezie and can be reached from the Terni Est exit of the Terni–Orte expressway, whether arriving from the north or the south. In Collegiacone, it is possible to park just before entering the village, thus avoiding a narrow passage within the settlement.