Monte Sibilla

The Sibilla

Monte Sibilla  (2.173 m) is a mountain of the region Marche. It 's situated in the southeast corner of the Sibillini National Park, a branch of the Central Italian Apenines.
Its name is given by a mythological tale regarding the Sibilla, a female figure that lived in a cave near the peak. Unfortunately, that cave collapsed and now it's hidden by debris and rocks. But the magic of the place still remains, the mountain is really unique.
Climbing from Montemonaco we have to follow a large white road digged abruptly from the roots to the top of the peak, with several turns, that bring us ahead for more than 1000 metres high. 

The white road from Montemonaco

That was intended to serve as an access road to a futuristic sky area in the 80's, never finished, a shame to the nature of the place, visible from all over the nearby mountains.

The Mount Vettore

The sun shines hard on the white rocks, we recomend not to follow the track in the hottest days and hours. At about half the way we meet a large shelter recently renovated, the last chance to have fresh water.

A sheperd's shelter

From that point the road is closed to the traffic, also we have to cross a little landslide, beside that the ciclability is guarantee without any problem, except the fatigue for the long run.
We reach the pass at about 2000 metres high in more than 2 hours and what you can see from the panoramic ridge is beyond belief. 

At the foot of  the ridge

All the peaks of the Sibillini mountains are well shown, from the highest one, Mount Vettore, to the ripid Queen's Peak. Far south, the peaks of Gran Sasso, while near on our left, just 1000 metres below, the ravine of the Infernaccio.

The "Infernaccio" ravine

We follow the ridge of red rock, forming a particular shape that reminds us a crown, well suited for the "Queen of the Sibillini".

The red rock of the top

Rding on the ridge

After a couple of up and downs we have to climb a little (very simpe) and take the bike on the shoulder to reach the top of Sibilla, on which a cross is situated.

From the top of Sibilla

The descent is quite hard from the north-eastern ridge and bring us back to the shelter and, later on, to Montemonaco.