Bolognola: National Park, Mountain Trails and Winter Activities

Bolognola in the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini

Bolognola is home to the sources of the Fiastrone River. The entire area of Bolognola lies within the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini. The historic settlement of Bolognola consists of three medieval districts. Bolognola preserves the remains of a medieval castle, including walls equipped with towers.

The parish church of Bolognola now displays a panel depicting the Madonna del Rosario by Giulio Vergari, dating from 1519. Palazzo Maurizi preserves particularly finely crafted decoration from the early 19th century. The painter Luigi Spazza, who came from Camerino, frescoed the rooms of Palazzo Maurizi in 1824.

Historic Townscape and Traditional Culture

Palazzo Primavera is one of Bolognola’s oldest civic buildings and dates from the 16th century. The “I telai di Brunella” workshop in Palazzo Primavera offers a hands-on insight into traditional weaving.

The Chiesa di San Nicolò di Bari dates from the mid-19th century and stands on an older building erected between the second half of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century. The Chiesa di San Nicolò di Bari preserves a bellows organ from the 18th century as its oldest surviving element.

Routes through Forests and Mountain Landscapes

The one-hour “Fra Camosci ed Aquile” route leads from Bolognola to Fonte dell’Aquila and can be explored on foot or by bicycle. The “La Cascata Nascosta” route leads from Bolognola to the Gola dell’Acquasanta and can be explored on foot or by bicycle.

The Madonnina is located at an altitude of 1,480 metres and offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. The Madonnina can be reached via a circular trail through beech forests and along streams, with changing mountain panoramas. Macchia Tonda is an almost circular beech forest. Macchia Tonda is home to a monumental beech tree estimated to be around 380 years old.

The hiking trails near Pintura di Bolognola pass through meadows, centuries-old beech forests and mountain ridges from spring to autumn. Guided excursions through some of the most scenic areas of the Sibillini Mountains depart from Pintura di Bolognola; the routes vary in length and difficulty.

Winter Activities and Attractions in Pintura

Pintura di Bolognola, 3 km from the town centre, has ski lifts and activities for skiers of all ages. The Bike Circus at Bolognola Ski is a practice area that introduces visitors to mountain biking and e-biking and is also suitable for children and beginners.

The Green Park offers tree-top adventure courses with platforms, bridges and suspended crossings. The Green Park complements the courses with environmental education activities about the beech forest and the ecosystem of the Sibillini Mountains. The Green Park has parking areas, picnic tables, a barbecue area, a natural spring and a refreshment point.

The e-bike rental service in Pintura offers hardtail and full-suspension models for first rides as well as longer and more challenging tours in the Sibillini Mountains. Every 8 December, “Pinturicchio”, the highest Christmas tree in the Marche region, is illuminated on the mountainside near the Madonnina.

Further destinations: Sarnano, Fiastra, Croce and Frontignano.

To the higher-level travel overview: Macerata.