Finally, I am back from my Norwegian adventure, and I could be reunited with Elke and Isabelle!
Time to plan another trip together for our Ecco le Marche blog.
This time, we chose the Bosco dei Mazzamurelli in Montemonaco, a sort of “gnome woodland” in the Monti Sibillini Regional Park.
Unfortunately, for the umpteenth time on one of our group outings, the weather wasn’t on our side… But we didn’t let that stop us. Rumors say that I could have brought at least…not rain! We parked just outside the village of Montemonaco: free parking, always a win.
The walk through the Mazzamurelli Forest starts on the other side of the village, so we followed the signs!
The Guerin Meschino Trail
At the starting point, a large sign welcomed us, showing the route through the land of the Mazzamurelli and a trail dedicated to the life story of Guerin Meschino.
Guerin Meschino is the main character in an 8-part chivalric romance written in 1410 by Andrea di Barberino. Kidnapped as a child by pirates and sold to Epidonio, a courtier of the Emperor of Constantinople, Meschino soon became friends with the son of the Turkish emperor. After many adventures, he decided to search for his parents, travelling the world and facing countless trials. One day, he met a wise old man who advised him to go to central Italy to find the Sibyl – she would know who and where his parents were. Meschino reached the Sibyl’s cave, where she told him only that both his parents were still alive. After nearly a year in the cave, he resumed his quest and finally found them in Durres (Albania).
Following in his footsteps, we walked the entire trail. It’s not just fun for children, I must say we enjoyed it too! Along the way, there were little challenges to complete (sadly, the instructions were only in Italian, but some were easy to figure out).
I gave it a go with the barefoot path!
And of course, we admired the panoramic views of the Sibillini mountains as the sun slowly began to peek through the clouds.
We even tackled an obstacle course along the way.
Walking Through the Mazzamurelli Forest
Next, we entered the realm of the Mazzamurelli that are mischievous little gnome-like creatures. They love sneaking into houses to make noise, knocking on walls (hence their name Mazzamurelli, mazza means bat) and playing pranks on the residents. They are also devoted guardians of forests and nature, both in the mountains and by the sea. Legends about them can be found in many places.
During the walk, we discovered that the forest is also home to fairies, animals, and even the throne of the Sibyl Queen, just back from Norway!
This section of the walk required a bit more stamina…
If we had started directly with the Mazzamurelli path, we would have entered through a gate where you ring a bell; the gnomes like to know when visitors are coming! We did this at the end instead.
The Play Park
Once out of the forest, we were greeted by another barefoot path: this one both dry and wet, passing through a small pond. There was also a fitness trail and a fun playground.
Need a rest? Follow my stemps and you can lounge on special benches with beautiful views.
Sadly, the visitor centre was closed.
You can watch a little video of our fun morning here:
Exploring Montemonaco
By now, our stomachs were rumbling. I had dinner plans that evening, so we opted for a picnic lunch. The sandwich bar with the funny signs was closed, but luckily the local grocery shop (alimentari) had plenty of choice. The very friendly lady there even gave us a tip for the best picnic spot…
At the far end of Montemonaco, they’ve turned the old castle ruins into a lovely square with tables, benches, and breathtaking views. It was the perfect setting for our sandwiches!
The square is named Piazzale Don Ameche, after the Hollywood actor whose father emigrated from Montemonaco to the United States in 1900. Don Ameche, born in 1908, started his acting career in 1935 and continued until his death in 1993. He even won an Oscar in 1986 for Best Supporting Actor in Cocoon.
It’s a great picnic spot, with a small playground nearby and a lovely view over the rooftops of Montemonaco.
We couldn’t visit the Sibyl Museum, as it was closed for renovations (which hadn’t yet started…), but we were able to enter the San Benedetto church.
Rebuilt in 1546 (as noted above the entrance), the church’s highlight is a silver reliquary containing the arm of Saint Benedict the Abbot, crafted by goldsmith Cristoforo di Norcia in 1606. Behind the altar stands a 15th-century wooden cross, and the church also preserves its only remaining fresco.
The day was a success and will lead us to other sights… but that’s a story for another post.
Tips:
- Visitor Centre opening hours – Gnome Forest
July: Saturdays & Sundays only / August: daily, 9:30–12:30 and 15:30–18:30
Rest of the year: call +39 338 690 40 69 - Other free gnome or fairy-themed places:
The Fairytale River in Cingoli and the Magic Forest in Sefro
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