One of the pearls of the Marche Apennines

Surrounded by greenery, the village of Fiastra is considered one of the pearls of the Marche Apennines; we are inside the Sibillini Mountains Park. On the Adriatic side, we find the Fiastrone Valley: little known but breathtaking for the visitor who comes to this area in search of such natural beauties. Over time, tourism has developed strongly by leveraging the landscape. Inside the park we find many easily passable paths; particular attention must be given to the excursions that go into the canyon of the Gole del Fiastrone. You can also reach the slopes of the red blades, a must for those arriving in this village: they are formations in the shape of pinnacles and towers made of gravel, held together by clay and silts and formed thanks to the erosion of atmospheric agents . Still visible in Fiastra are the ruins of the medieval castle which belonged to the Magalotti family from 1170 to 1259. There is also an inestimable religious heritage ascribable between the 13th and 17th centuries, scattered throughout the various hamlets of Fiastra. In the mother church, dedicated to San Paolo, now uninhabitable, there is the work 'The conversion of San Paolo' by Giovan Battista Gaulli, known as Baciccio, a well-known Italian Baroque artist. Another important stop is the sanctuary of Beato Ugolino: it was born as the church of San Giovanni Battista and inside resided a Benedictine community around the 10th-11th century. Later the frescoes were added, the church is in Romanesque style, which is limited to the essential, that is to the relationship with God. Beyond the white stone portal, the church has two naves connected by two arches resting on a pillar. In the semicircular apse, you can see the beautiful frescoes. Since 1373 the church has kept the body of Ugolino Magalotti, a descendant of the Magalotti family. From the food and wine point of view the territory has a lot to offer: from cheeses to sausages, including the 'ciuscolo' but let's not forget the truffle, the protagonist of many dishes; the wine from a native vine is also renowned.