When autumn arrives in Le Marche, the region transforms into a glowing patchwork of gold, crimson and amber. From the peaks of the Sibillini Mountains to the rolling vineyards near Urbino, October and early November paint the landscape in warm tones that rival any famous foliage destination in Europe and without Summer crowds.
In this guide, you’ll find a list of places in Le Marche where you can admire the autumn foliage.
Foliage at Faggeta di Canfaito
Faggeta di Canfaito is one of the most famous locations in the region where to admire the foliage. It is part of Riserva Naturale Regionale del Monte San Vicino e del Monte Canfaito, a protected natural area around San Severino Marche.
Canfaito comes from Latin campo di faggi (field of beeches or field of faggi), reflecting the dense beech woods in this high plateau area (about 1,000–1,100m above sea level). Among its treasures are centuries-old beech trees, called faggi monumentali, including the oldest beech in Le Marche, with a trunk over 6 meters in circumference, more than 500 years old.
For a walk in the faggeta, you have a couple of options:
- CAI 209 trail (Sentiero 209), a trail with medium difficulty (difficulty level: E).
- Percorso no.6, easier than the above trail and used for Nordic walking.
Sentiero 209
The trail 209 (Sentiero 209) starts from Elcito and descends to the junction for Val Fucina. Among the rural buildings, there is a small church. The path, accompanied by grazing cows, continues straight between two rows of trees, crossing a wide meadow.
At the end of the pasture, the track becomes narrower, rockier, and steeper, entering the woodland until it turns into a true mountain trail. After a few hundred meters, you find yourself immersed in the forest, where tall hazel trees form a natural arch over the path.
Bending slightly to the left, the route reaches the slope of the valley, where the terrain and climate conditions have favoured the growth of a magnificent, monumental beech forest.
The trail then turns right, and the forest changes appearance, allowing a better view of the woodland character of both slopes.
It then enters the bed of a small stream, among large boulders, which is left shortly after to turn left along a narrow, steep groove with an earthy bottom. The beech forest then opens up again in all its beauty, and finally, the trail reaches Monumento di Canfaito.
Percorso 6
While a much easier alternative, or for example, on a rainy day; you can walk Percorso no.6 which is shorter than the above (Sentiero 209), and on more even surfaces and flatter profile, just a ~5km loop. This course instead starts from the parking area near Monumento di Canfaito.
Foliage at Monti Sibillini National Park
You could simply take one of the trails in the park, otherwise the easiest option is to drive around the towns of Montefortino, Montemonaco, Amandola, Sarnano, Ussita, and Visso. You can simply take a walk through these towns and enjoy the surrounding views. Many of them also have short paths or trails that offer easy walks through small parks or wooded areas — perfect for admiring the autumn colors without the commitment of a hike.
Fiastra Lake
One option is a walk on the curated path by the Fiastra Lake, just head to Fiastra (San Lorenzo al Lago), park your car and walk by the lake.
Gola dell’Infernaccio
One of the most popular and easy hikes to enjoy the autumn foliage in the Sibillini Mountains is the trail through the Gola dell’Infernaccio to the Eremo di San Leonardo. The path follows the upper stretch of the Tenna River, which is still a narrow mountain stream at this point, close to its source. The trail winds gently through the gorge before turning right into the woods that lead to the hermitage. The Eremo di San Leonardo is a small stone church built in the 1990s by a hermit, Father Pietro, on the remains of an ancient monastery.
You can park your car exactly at the beginning of the trail.
Foliage at Gola del Furlo
Nestled between Acqualagna and Fossombrone, Riserva Naturale Statale Gola del Furlo (aka Gola del Furlo Natural Reserve) is one of the most striking places to experience autumn in Le Marche. When October arrives, this dramatic limestone gorge — carved over millennia by the Candigliano River — becomes a natural masterpiece painted in every shade of gold, copper, and crimson.
Towering cliffs frame the turquoise river below, while oak, maple, and beech trees spill down the slopes in fiery tones. The contrast between the white rock walls and the warm foliage makes Gola del Furlo one of the most scenic autumn drives in central Italy. The winding SP3 road through the gorge offers panoramic pullouts where you can stop and take in the view — every turn feels like a postcard.
Several easy-to-moderate trails criss-cross the reserve. In autumn, Sentiero 449 and the Monte Pietralata trail are particularly rewarding, leading through quiet forests of chestnut and oak. From the summit, the vista over the Candigliano valley is breathtaking, especially when bathed in golden light. If you’re lucky, you might even spot golden eagles or peregrine falcons circling above — a reminder that this area is not only beautiful but also ecologically rich.
Sentiero 449
Sentiero 449 of Riserva Naturale Statale Gola del Furlo (formerly designated as Sentiero 149) leads from the Furlo Pass (Passo del Furlo) to the mountain hut of the same name, crossing a wild and unspoiled environment and offering magnificent panoramic views of the valley below ( from Terrazza del Furlo). The route was re-marked and secured in autumn 2012 and is currently fully accessible to hikers. The difficulty level is E.
Sentiero 446
Sentiero 446 is the most convenient route to reach the summit of Monte Pietralata, one of the two main peaks of the Gola del Furlo Nature Reserve. The trail starts from the area known as “Spelonca Bassa” along the paved road connecting the village of Furlo to the mountain hut of the same name. The route was originally designated as Trail 146 but recently has been refurbished to a much safer route. The difficulty level is E.
Tip: Arrive early to catch fog, so your photos will be more scenic, and you’ll also avoid the weekend crowds.
Guided Activities Ideas
- Truffle Hunting in Aqualagna
- Truffle Hunt with Lunch or Dinner in Cagli
- Marche Tour in a Vintage Fiat 500 around the Verdicchio Hills
- Beekeeper for a day
- Jesi: Castles and Wine Tour with Tastings
- Marche Wines: Explore the Richness of Local Flavours
- Sarnano Waterfalls Tour
- Boutique Winery Visit & 5 Organic Wine Tastings near Urbino
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