For a visit in close contact with the majesty of nature, the Monte Canfaito Reserve is what you need: trees, silence and beauty.
Thick foliage, imposing trunks and dizzying heights.
Are we talking about athletes and dudes?
But obviously not, but trees.
These are common characteristics of athletes and trees but what differentiates them, in this case, is the age.
Let's discover together the territory and the magic of Monte San Vicino Regional Nature Reserve and Mount Canfaito.
Where is the Monte Canfaito Reserve located?
The position is the one to be envied.
Is situated between the sea and the Apennines in a panoramic position.
On clear days, depending on the position, you can see the sea to the east, the chain of Sibillini Mountains National Park south-west (with a view of the Gran Sasso) and the Monte Conero towards North East.
In fact, the prerogative of many towns and villages in this region is to be "balconies".
Looking out from every small terrace or spur of rock you can see the infinite.
Perhaps Leopardi did not say: "But sitting and looking, endless spaces beyond that ... So my thought drowns in this immensity: And shipwreck is sweet for me in this sea".
It is easy to understand then why the poet wrote these lines.
Just stop and admire the 360 ​​° panorama that opens up around us and be amazed by such beauty and immensity.
By locating even better the position of this territory we could say that it is located in a triangulation of historical, cultural and natural value.
The vertices of this triangle are in fact composed of tracks, with its lake, San Severino Marche and Gorge of Frasassi, with the Natural Park and its famous caves.
The magic of Monte Canfaito
But where does the name Canfaito come from?
The etymology of the name derives from the Latin.
The words that give the name to this Reserve are in fact “Campum” and “Faitum” which literally means: field of beech trees.
Previously we said that what distinguishes these trees (characterized by foliage, stems and height) from athletes is age.
Are you ready to find out the age of these giants?
Close your eyes and get ready to go on a journey, a leap into the past in distant and distant times.
I'll give you some coordinates to understand what year we are in.
Titian in this year he paints the Assumption and Raffaello Ezekiel's vision.
Also in this year there is the introduction of tobacco in Europe.
Did you understand in what year these trees were "born"?
More or less sense you can get there but to be exact the year we are talking about is 1518.
Yes you got it right.
These trees are 500 years old.
In reality, within this Reserve there are two trees of 500 years and one of 300.
All the others are obviously much newer.
But imagine the beauty and the amazement of seeing and embracing these trees.
Just get closer under their imposing hair and place a hand on them to be catapulted back in time and experience all the wonderful adventures of 500 years.
Wars and peace, births and deaths, stories of love and passion.
The paper that is actually used to write the pages of history here has not been extrapolated from these trunks, it has in fact remained in its natural wooden form.
What to do in Canfaito?
Once you have entered the Nature Reserve and admired these monumental specimens of beech, you can take numerous walks inside the reserve.
It is possible to follow paths with increasing difficulty.
You can reach it Elcito, the Roti Abbey and the Pian dell'Elmo.
On the official website of the Regional Nature Reserve you will find all the indications on the paths and practicable paths.
But for those who want relaxation and peace?
Just lie down under the foliage of these trees and enjoy the clean air of this reserve.
Furthermore, for those with a sweet tooth, there are areas equipped to enjoy delicious grilled food.
Elcito, a village near the Monte Canfaito Reserve
In the vicinity of the Monte Canfaito Reserve there is the possibility of visiting a village with the charm of other times.
The high-sounding name of this village is Elcito.
A village that rises to 821 meters above sea level and is located just below the slopes of Monte San Vicino.
The name of this characteristic village derives from elce (also known as holm oak).
A tree not really endemic to this area but which managed to survive even in a colder climate.
In reality it is an ancient castle (whose shape is still visible today) erected to defend theValfucina Abbey.
Unfortunately, it can no longer be visited (if not from outside) due to the 2016 earthquake.
Its construction dates back to the end of the XNUMXth century.
However, its flowering took place between 1227 and 1236, with the following expansion of Elcito as a castle.
The village is now the subject of a major renovation.
There are many people who come to enjoy the view from this rock spur and to visit its stone houses.
He was nicknamed the village between heaven and earth precisely for its incredible views and for the various shades of color that can be seen.
Going up a steep slope behind the village you can see, in the winter months, the white of the mountains that stand out against the green of the trees and the blue of the sky.
It has also been referred to as the Tibet of the Marches.
Here, in fact, in 2001, the monks of Drepung made a visit to them precisely because of the territorial similarity with their monastery and left the flags with the typical Tibetan prayers in memory of their passage.
The Gorge of Jana
Reachable from They hunt, a village located under the slopes of this Nature Reserve.
This borough is also defined as country of murals.
In fact, there are about sixty drawings that color the houses, the walls and the barns, made byMacerata Academy, of Brera and by artists from all over the world.
Once you have admired these colorful paintings, all that remains is to proceed to the Jana Gorge.
Here you can admire, along a path, streams and water games that are formed following the melting of the snow.
At the end of this walk, a well-deserved reward awaits you: the view of the hidden waterfall.
The stream that forms with the melting of the snow forms an entrancing water feature.
Tips:
The best time to visit the Nature Reserve of Monte Canfaito is theautunno.
Here, in fact, the beech trees take on the typical orange-bronze color of the leaves that make the atmosphere even more magical.
And if mother nature would like to give you a gift, you could witness a foggy day where these colors, combined with the grandeur of the trunks and their branches, make everything even more mystical.
Finally, one last personal tip.
Tiptoe into this reserve.
With silence and soft footsteps you reach these trees and admire their majesty.
See how the branches proceed downwards before rising upwards.
Place a hand on their trunk, close your eyes and enter into symbiosis with these giants.
Imagine and above all listen, in their silence, to the stories they have to tell you.
