Holiday apartment in Genga: caves, trails and culture

Caves and adventures around Frasassi

The Grotte di Frasassi complex features magnificent stalactites, gigantic stalagmites and flowing crystal formations. Speleo Avventura Azzurro lasts around two hours, requires a reservation and includes short climbing passages, sections that involve crawling, narrow passageways and slides. Speleo Avventura Rosso includes the 30-metre-deep “Falconara well”, a 30-metre-long section crossed on hands and knees, and a 10-metre ascent through a slippery tunnel.

There are also special experiences above and among the trees. Frasassi Avventura in Genga offers courses built between the trees, Tibetan bridges and zip lines above the Sentino River.

Hiking trails with nature, views and history

The Sentiero dell'Aquila is an approximately 7 km circular trail along the peaks on the northern side of the Gola di Frasassi. At six rest areas, ten information panels provide details about the flora, fauna, geology, and historical and architectural features. The trail connects the hamlets of Pierosara, Cerqueto, Rosenga and Vallemania. Since the 10th century, one section of the Sentiero dell'Aquila connected the area around San Vittore delle Chiuse and the Castaldato of Castel Petroso, today’s Pierosara, with Castello di Genga, passing through Rosenga and Vallemania.

The Sentiero del Foro degli Occhialoni near Pierosara in Genga offers a different type of trail. It leads to two openings overlooking the gorge; it begins easily and becomes steeper and more challenging as it continues.

The Greenway del fiume Sentino begins at the river Sentino in the San Vittore district. The approximately 1 km educational trail is equipped with information panels explaining the flora and fauna of the wooded area along the river.

Museums and historic sites in Genga

The Museo Speleopaleontologico e Archeologico was established to preserve an ichthyosaur fossil found in 1976 in Camponocecchio, within the municipality of Genga. The Museo di Genga – Arte, storia e territorio houses restored works of art that were previously kept in the historic Church of San Clemente. The two museums have different focuses: one leads from the history of the Earth and palaeontology into archaeology, while the other moves from religious art to history and the local area.

The Eremo Santa Maria Infra Saxa (Santuario della Madonna di Frasassi) has been documented since 1029 and was later used as a cloistered convent run by Benedictine nuns. Together with the historic route of the Sentiero dell'Aquila, this makes it clear that the area around Genga is shaped not only by its caves, but also by traditional trails, former connections and sacred sites.

Getting to and accessibility in Genga

For visitors with reduced mobility, access on the tourist route through the Grotte di Frasassi is possible up to the beginning of the second chamber, the “Room 200”. A speleological visitor service operated by the Frasassi consortium can be traced back to December 1993; visitors were accompanied by two experienced cave guides and wore a suit, helmet and boots provided by the operator.

The Grotte di Genga and Frasassi area can be reached from Ancona by car via the SS76 in about one hour. You can also explore Marina Di Montemarciano, Rustico, Coldellanoce, Loretello, San Vittore, Campodiegoli, Rocca Priora and Camerano as additional travel destinations.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ancona.