Montottone by bike: itinerary through Aso, Ete and Tenna rivers valley

With the growing attention to the well-being of environment, and also of one's own body, in recent years bicycle touring established itself as an important travel alternative, especially for tourists looking for a green holiday and a new way to experience the destination.

The Marche region, in particular, offers the most active travelers spectacular bicycle touring routes, with the possibility of visiting on two wheels the historic centres of ancient villages, exploring picturesque countryside to discover truly unique places, and obviously trying the delicacies of local cuisine between one stop and another.

Let's discover together one of the most evocative routes to fall in love with this territory: it's time to get on your bike towards Montottone, in the province of Fermo, for an exciting bicycle itinerary through Aso, Ete and Tenna rivers valley!

The first stop on the bicycle itinerary through Aso, Ete and Tenna rivers valley is Fonte Magna, just 1 km south-east of Montottone, to reach in a few minutes starting from Piazza Cifola - at the doors of the historic centre - and taking SP61 or Via Trieste, then entering the namesake country road Via Fonte Magna.

Fonte Magna, the largest fountain in the Montottone area with its two tanks, is mentioned in some historical documents as one of the most important countryside water sources in this portion of the province of Fermo, always supplied with water throughout the year, and therefore very important for local agriculture.

Built at the beginning of 1500’s and then renovated and improved twice, in 1711 and 1861 on the occasion of the Unification of Italy, Fonte Magna is an iconic place to delve into the history of this land by immersing yourself in its picturesque nature!

The next stop on the bicycle itinerary near Montottone is the famous Collina Vecchia site, where the remains of an ancient urban settlement from the early Middle Ages still stand, in particular the Benedictine monastery that made this village an important agricultural and artisan location in the area of Fermo.

To reach it, just continue for about 2.5 km on Via Fonte Magna and then on the rural path that connects Montottone to Monte Vidon Combatte, then turning left to continue downhill.

Actually getting to Collina Vecchia might not be very easy, due to its dislocation from the current inhabited centres and the wild nature that has taken over the ruins and part of the path.

Anyway, for expert and adventurous cyclists it is certainly worth trying to get as close as possible and visit this ancient and evocative place, admiring what remains of the buildings and the fortification of the medieval monastery, as well as enjoying a pleasant view of the valley below.

Let's go back up the path, and get ready to pedal towards the third stage of this bicycle itinerary around Montottone and the Fermo countryside. Another 3 km of cycling awaits us, all uphill, but it's absolutely worth it!

To reach our next destination, the rural church of Saints Lorenzo and Onofrio, we will have to enter SP21 to the south and continue west, towards SP61 Montottonese Sud to get to Monte Rinaldo, finally taking the uphill path of Via San Lorenzo.

Once reached the top of the hill, enclosed by a wooden fence and silent in the shade of majestic Mediterranean pines, we’re finally in front of this picturesque little church from 1676. A calm place, separated from the rest of the world, with a particular charm that’s difficult to describe in words, from which to enjoy an enchanting panoramic view - and maybe it's possible to see in the distance the bell tower of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice - and a silence that reconnects us to the purest essence of our bond with nature.

This can be a good time to take a short break, drink some water, breathe fresh clean air and recover some energy before moving on: the most challenging stops are coming!

Ready to get back on our bikes, our bicycle itinerary through Aso, Ete and Tenna rivers valley continues with a fourth stage that takes us straight back to history, discovering the ancient Roman past of this region. We head towards the Roman archaeological area of La Cuma, near the Aso river, in the municipality of Monte Rinaldo.

To get there you need to ride for about 9 km, continuing first west on linear terrain on the SP61 Montottonese Sud to the hamlet of Sant’Elpidio Morico, then a rapid descent and rise south on the SP174 to Monte Rinaldo, on the top of the hill. The historic centre of the village is truly enchanting and from its altitude of 475 m it’s possible to enjoy exceptional views, ranging from the rivers valleys to Sibillini Mountains. We recommend you take another break to slowly visit these extraordinary alleys and perhaps have a snack.

The archaeological area of La Cuma is located a little further south of the village, still on the SP174 in a steep descent towards Aso. Discovered only in 1958, this site - which can be visited with a guide - represents an interesting testimony to the spirituality of the ancient world; in fact, it’s the remains of a Roman temple, dedicated to the cults of Hercules or Jupiter probably, but still today is a subject of study for historians and archaeologists.

Some hypotheses even theorize the possibility that the temple originated in pre-Roman age, dedicated to the cult of goddess Cupra, also known as the Great Mother, related with the worship of water as an element of life, health and fertility.

And speaking of water, the time has finally come to descend to the level of Aso and ride along the river way, the road that will lead us to our next destination.

The fifth stop on our bicycle itinerary is Petritoli, a village east of Montottone that can be reached with a 14 km bike ride starting from the Roman archaeological site we just visited. The first part of the route is downhill, and it is necessary to ride the entire SP174 until the intersection with the SP104, where we continue to the left.

The vegetation to the right of the road hides the Aso river from our view, but we can listen to the melodious flow of its waters in the beautiful and surreal silence of nature that still reigns here, with its rhythms, its colors and its scents. This route is particularly evocative at the beginning of summer, with the golden bloom of the sunflower fields, an iconic flower of this land!

Passing through the hamlet of Aso di Ortezzano and continuing to right, beyond Ponte di Ortezzano (bridge) on the river, where you can also discover a beautiful votive niche from the first half of 1900’s, the ride continues for about 6 km on Via Valdaso SP185 - on the border with the province of Ascoli - up to Ponte Valdaso on the SP22 (bridge); crossing it we get to Valmir, the lowest hamlet of Petritoli.

From here begins the second part of the track, much more linear but definitely more tiring, with a +200 m rise on SP66 north up to the centre of the village. It is the right opportunity to take a new break, have lunch and visit the splendid Petritoli, whose historic centre develops in height on the top of this hill, with a truly extraordinary panorama.

After the break in Petritoli, we set off again right away for the sixth stage of this electrifying bicycle itinerary. We head towards a place with a mystical aura, a highly evocative stop especially for those who are more sensitive to the themes of faith, but still interesting even for those who love discovering unusual locations by venturing into nature.

Our next destination is the little temple of Madonna delle Cataste, located at the northern end of the territory of Ponzano di Fermo near the Ete river. To reach it, we have about 8,5 km of bike riding ahead us, but fortunately this time the entire route is gradually downhill.

We therefore continue north along SP66, approaching the eastern border of Monte Giberto along the road before continuing right towards Ponzano. Halfway, we take the country path on the left, Via Contrada Bore di Fiano, proceeding always north towards the Ete river and Ponte di Ponzano (bridge).

The temple is located in a rather remote area of the surrounding countryside, and to reach it you will need to take a small downhill path that opens to the left along the main road, just before the intersection to go towards Ponzano on the right, and towards the bridge over Ete and Grottazzolina further ahead on the left.

Once came to the bottom you can also continue on foot to discover this idyllic place, a true oasis of peace amidst nature, where some say the Virgin Mary appeared at the beginning of 1900’s. A true lovely place, but also a place of silence, where you can stop for a while to meditate and regenerate before moving again!

Our bicycle trip in the province of Fermo continues with a new stage that takes us back to the territory of Montottone, thus approaching the end of the itinerary. Separate us from the next destination, the hamlet of Forche di Tenna, there are about 6,5 km of bike riding along SP112, also known as Strada Val D’Ete Vivo.

After a meditative break at Madonna delle Cataste, we set off again, returning to the main road. After crossing Ponte di Ponzano (bridge), we turn left. The road is long, but quiet and immersed in the greenery of the enchanting rural landscape of Le Marche, and cycling is truly a pleasure.

After a couple of kilometers you have to cross the small bridge on the left, at the conjunction between Strada Ete and Contrada Campodonico, and keep going straight on left of the river, which in its continuous flow accompanies us on this suggestive journey.

We follow the road signs for Montottone, passing a small hill taking us away from the river for a short stretch, and at the next crossroads we continue towards Grottazzolina instead on the downhill road. After crossing a new bridge, we turn left again to enter Via Ete, the road that will take us to our destination: Forche di Tenna, the northernmost district of Montottone, the joining link to move on towards the final stage before the last sprint.

Here we are, still on the banks of the Ete river and with the Tenna a handful of kilometers further north, headed towards the eighth and final stage of the itinerary before returning to the centre of Montottone. Thus we reach Eschito district, further south, for a +170 m ride uphill in the green woods that distinguish it.

Continuing on Via Ete, a few hundred meters ahead of Forche di Tenna we cross the bridge on the left, leaving the river behind us and then taking Via Eschito. Here the road is completely unpaved and there are no specific signs, but don't worry, just go straight on to pass through the wildest areas and get closer and closer to the town centre - with the satisfaction of having almost achieved an intense and emotional travel itinerary.

In fact, at the top of the rise, Via Eschito joins with SP61, the main road connecting Montottone and the other towns in the province, as well as Fermo itself. We’ll meet over there, to ride the last kilometer together!

The afternoon light begins to fade, the sun approaches setting beyond the horizon, and another day is about to end. A special day, anyway, on which on a bicycle we have truly savored the truest essence of these places, of a simple territory, yet rich in landscape, historical and cultural beauties.

We travel the last kilometer putting tiredness completely aside, because what matters now are the emotions we have experienced and the memories we have made, testing ourselves together on this itinerary through the valley of Aso, Ete and Tenna rivers.

Montottone is in sight now, and welcomed by the evocative presence of the Church of Madonna delle Grazie, just like gliding birds we let ourselves be carried along the downhill road of Via Porta Marina.

Returning to Piazza Cifola feels like a true homecoming, while from its picturesque tree-lined viewpoint we enjoy the intense colors of the sunset covering the hills of Fermo in a warm embrace.