Montefranco – Monte Moro - San Mamiliano
- Trail Conditions: On foot
- Duration: 1 hour/s 45 minutes
- Difficulty Level: E - Hiking (level)
- Length: 4.4 km
Discovering an interesting archaeological site
This itinerary, varied and interesting from the landscape point of view, is without any doubt particularly relevant under the historic, anthropological and archaeological profile. In fact the trail retraces a stretch of the "Iron Route", an ancient itinerary connecting the extractive area of Monteleone di Spoleto to Scheggino in the Nera Valley (where the material was worked), proceeding through the right horographic side of the Valnerina until the junction in Strettura with the ancient Via Flaminia going to Rome. The proposed trail starts near the cemetery (414 m. amsl) of the Church of Madonna del Carmine (17th century – renovated) with its elegant bell tower (18th century). From here it is possible to visit Montefranco (390 m. amsl): this medieval knoll castle, which was the ancient municipality's main town is located on a rocky spur, overlooking the Valnerina on the hydrographic right of the river opposite of Arrone. The only remains of the old fortified hamlet are two towers, Porta Spoletina and Porta Franca. In the centre you can note the church of San Pietro (18th century) and the parish church of Santa Maria, recently rebuilt over the remains of an older building. From Madonna del Carmine the road ascends to Colle Verde from which, following the crest and after having hiked over a stretch of this ancient and extremely important route, you reach the rural hamlet of Colline; from here, always following the crest, you advance into a beautiful wood, rich with essences, until you reach the southern slope of Mount Moro (696 m. amsl), which overlooks the vast valley opposite of Ferentillo; once here, it is possible to make a brief detour and ascend to the mountaintop where you can visit the archaeological site with the remains of a Roman sanctuary and two annexed water tanks. The site is also a great viewpoint, allowing you to enjoy the sight of the valley of Fosso Lavatore on the northern front towards the Flaminia road. Walking around the fork of Mount Moro, the trail descends to San Mamiliano (607 m. amsl), an ancient castle of medieval origin; its name comes from Mamiliano, a saint lived in the 5th century who was greatly venerated in the first periods of Christianity. The inhabited centre is located on a headland at the foot of Colle dell'Ovaia (778 m. amsl), overlooking the valley of Fosso di Ancaiano and opening towards the Nera Valley opposite of Ferentillo. The Church of San Biagio (14th century) was built inside the castle's old fortification system. From San Mamiliano it is possible to go for an excursion in locality Cerqueto, where you can ascend to the small centre of "Le Mura" (330 m. amsl), an ancient hillside castle of medieval origin, fraction of the municipality of Ferentillo.
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