National park and countryside

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Today we wanted a quiet non-city day so set off to try and find the Nationale Reserve Gola del Furlo. It is harder than one would think to get off the main roads however after several attempts and going through some beautiful smaller towns, we found the Strada Sant Anna which led to the amazing pass between two mountains cut in half by the river.

The Furlo Pass is a gorge on the ancient Roman road Via Flaminia in the Marche region of central Italy, where it passes near the Candigliano river, a tributary of the Metauro. The tunnels in this pass, of which there are two, were built for emperor Caeser in 76 AD. as a trade route which became terrorised by bandits but the tunnels still remain unaltered.

Anna and liz had ridden through this pass in 2014 which, as it is now, was blocked by rock falls - then to cars only so the bikes got through but now to all; even walkers. We were however able to walk from the Sant Anna end for some distance and the sights, which you can see in the photos, were amazing.

Our return trip was from Urbania to Urbino through the most beautiful mountains with stunning panoramas - the photos hardly do the scenery justice.

We also loved the towns of Aqualagna, Fermiggnano, Calavaccio and Fossombrone and again the balance between old and new is intriguing.

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Photos

Pink stone house
Ahhh stone again and now it's pink sandstone

Chiasa sant Anna
We had to include this!

Fossombrone old steps
Another stunning old sector

View!
From the window of the old house entrance

Old house entrance
Note the signature retaining wall for fortification

Chiasa
Very old and now all locked up

Bridge at Fossombrone
Such blue green water which we see in all the local rivers - Kaolin clay perhaps

Furlo bar
Anna thinks this same guy sat at the same table in 2014!

Lunch at Furlo
Oh dear the pass is completely blocked off at this end - lets go back to sant Anna and try again. Michael found some great chunks of green and red jasper - how to bring them home?

Success
We made it - looking into the river from a stone drain in the side of the mountain

Roman steps
These disappeared deep into the water which in roman times would have been much lower as the river is now dammed.

Second roman tunnel
One wagon wide

First tunnel
Now extended slightly for stability

Panorama overlooking hills between Urbania and urbino
Breathtaking

The other direction
Fancy living here with views like these on all sides - jealous rethink purchasing plans?

Comments

[Ali Soden]

Day out!
What a fabulous area!

[Michanna]

Fabulous area
It so is - negotiating the traffic can still be a bit tricky and there are no entry zones in the old sectors unless you are a resident. Cameras and big fines. Otherwise however an area not be missed! Will you be coming here! Sicily is just as lovely we hear x

[Ali Soden]

Our hol!
So much of Italy to see...this time we are just doing Rome, Sicily and then down to Malta. Will have to return, definitely!! :D

[Michanna]

Return
How about we all chip in and buy a place! Xx

[Ali Soden]

Real Estate
We've seen sooo many places that we have dreamt about buying! But which country ;)

[Michanna]

Which country
Definitely Italy xx

[Ali Soden]

Real Estate
Yes, I like the idea of Italy, but I don't think I would ever be able to convince John of that! It will always be France for him!!

[Michanna]

France
Yes but tell him he's wrong: the people are much more friendly in Italy - mind you the govt may not be - it seems they charge lots of taxes

[judy walkley]

country side views
The two directions of views looks breathtakingly beautiful. Is the water really that color, it looks amazing. Glad you are having a great time. Water levels have receded slightly in dam and pool , plants are surviving nicely.