Paesaggio dell'Alta Valmarecchia visto dal borgo di Bascio

The Marecchia Valley, carved out by the flow of the Marecchia over the ages, is an ideal place for exploring charming trails on horseback and discovering the colors of its breathtaking landscapes, punctuated by oddly-shaped fortresses and castles. Riders may travel the length of the valley on the horse trails of the Upper Marecchia Valley, which are connected to the Grande Sentiero Verde (Great Green Trail) that runs along the Apennine ridge in the Marches, from Piceno to Montefeltro. Starting from Carpegna, a trail winds its way through the Parco Sasso Simone e Simoncello (Natural Park of Sasso Simone and Simoncello), passes along the base of Sasso Simone and descends to Bascio and Casteldelci to then pass through San Piero in Bagno in the Savio Valley before continuing onwards towards Tuscany. Another important route also beginning in Carpegna passes through Montecopiolo and leads to the castle of San Leo and Uffugliano before arriving in the Uso Valley and the Romagna region. Riders can admire the landscapes of the Upper Marecchia Valley not only from the major trails; they may also explore horse-trail loops complete with hospitality structures equipped to care for horses as well as their riders. A bike path that winds along the valley floor to Rimini connects the trails to the Adriatic coast. There are seven trails crossing the Parco Naturale Regionale del Sasso Simone e Simoncello: San Sisto – Sasso Simone Beginning in San Sisto, a small village that is the center of the mycology tradition in Montefeltro, this trail crosses broad plains and the low Mt. Cassinelle range and ends at Sasso Simone. Miratoio – Sasso Simoncello This trail leads riders by Miratorio's characteristic stone houses to Sasso Simoncello. Ponte Cappuccini – Eremo della Madonna del Faggio – Monte Carpegna This trail goes up the Passo del Trabocchino through the coniferous woods covering the slopes of Mt. Carpegna and skirts the Pietra Candella lake to bring riders to Mt. Carpegna. Scavolino – Monte Carpegna From the ruins of the 10th-century building in Scavolino, this trail brings riders to the Passo del Trabocchetto leading them through broad meadows. Passo della Cantoniera – Sasso Simone This trail leads through the Sasso Simone turkey oak forest, the largest in Europe, with an area of more than 800 hectares. Pian dei Prati – Sasso Simone Starting out in the park wildlife area, this trail leads to the Sasso Simone plateau, where visitors can make out the ruins of the town of Fortezza, built by Cosimo I de' Medici in the 16th century. Pietrarubbia – Ponte Cappuccini – Monte Boaggine – Monte Carpegna This old trail starts in the historical village of Pietrarubbia and leads to the ruins of the tower of Mt. Boaggine, which has been restored recently, and ends at Mt. Carpegna.