FRONTONE, Italy — A new hiking route connecting history and spirituality has been inaugurated in the heart of the Marche region. The “Trail of Friendly Stars” (Sentiero delle Stelle Amiche) stretches 14.1 kilometers from the Castle of the Porta (Castello della Porta) in Frontone to the Fonte Avellana Monastery in Serra Sant’Abbondio.
The trail’s evocative name draws inspiration from the starry vault ceiling of the monastery’s Chapter House, which recently underwent an innovative physical and virtual restoration.
Developed by tourism expert Andrea Pollarini, the project aims to promote the area and offer a tourism experience focused on landscape, nature, historical sites, and sustainability. It is designed as an invitation to discover a territory where history, art, nature, and spirituality are inextricably linked. The initiative will be officially presented on August 29th at 4:30 PM at the trail’s starting point, the Castello della Porta, during a conference entitled “Nature Tourism in the Marche.”
The path connects two significant landmarks, each telling a unique story of the region. On one end is the imposing Renaissance fortified architecture of the Castello della Porta, marked by the influence of Federico da Montefeltro and the ingenuity of architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini. On the other is the ancient monastery, founded around 980 AD by the followers of St. Romuald. It safeguards religious and cultural heritage of universal importance, from a precious scriptorium and an 18th-century library to its church, cloister, and the star-covered Chapter Hall.
The 14.1-kilometer journey winds through the medieval village of Frontone, the Mandrale ravine, the hermitage of Madonna dell’Acquanera, ancient forests preserved by the “Università degli Uomini Originari,” farms breeding the Catria horse, and meadows where the prized Spignolo mushroom sprouts in spring.
This new trail integrates into a regional network of spiritual and nature paths in the Marche, including the Cammino dei Cappuccini, the Cammino del Duca, and the Cammino di San Romualdo. This network is designed to meet the growing demand for slow and experiential travel, positioning the region as a premier destination for outdoor tourism that deepens the knowledge of local places and communities. A further goal is to combat the depopulation of inland areas and strengthen the community’s identity and connection to its land.
The conference for the project’s launch will also serve as a platform for a broader discussion on the role of nature-based tourism in the Marche, which now attracts widespread interest beyond a niche audience.