Trekking in the North East: the caves of Monte Cucco and the mysteries of Gubbio

Discovering geological mysteries on Monte Cucco and "extraterrestrial" traces in Gubbio: a weekend in the heart of the Umbrian-Marches Apennines.

Day 1
Arrival in the early afternoon at the medieval village of Costacciaro.
Welcome and meeting with the guide who will accompany you to discover the historic centre and the ancient oil mill*.
Accommodation in the Park Hostel, the rooms have private bathrooms.
Dinner at the village inn with typical Umbrian specialities. Overnight stay.

*On request it is possible to visit the Naturalistic Museum of the Park.

2nd day
Breakfast in the hostel.
Meeting with excursion guide.
Arrival by own means at the starting point of the hike.
Start of a fascinating trekking route into the heart of the mountains.
Entrance to the Monte Cucco cave*, visit to the large halls of the Cathedral, Margherita, Becco, the secret passage, and exit from the small north well equipped with a sailor's ladder. Dinner at the village inn with typical Umbrian specialities. Overnight stay.

*Until April the cave cannot be visited, the trek will only take place outside and in the area around the cave.

Loop route, length 6 km; height difference 500 m; total duration 4/5 hours, of which 1.5 hours in the cave; difficulty: excursionist (CAI classification).

Day 3
Breakfast in the hostel.
Meeting with excursion guide. By own means we reach Gubbio, starting point of the route.
Start of trekking to the geological site of the Bottaccione Gorge, a real "treasure chest of the past". Studies carried out in the area have uncovered an unusual concentration of iridium, a rare metal on our planet but present in meteorites, which has been blamed for the 5th mass extinction, that of the dinosaurs.
The route continues through the medieval aqueduct to the town centre of Gubbio.
Free time to discover the ancient village.

*On request it is possible to visit the Extintion exhibition on dinosaurs.

Loop route, length 4.5 km; difference in height 120 m; duration 3 hours excluding stops; difficulty Tourist (CAI classification).

To take part in the excursions, normal physical preparation for mountain excursions lasting 5/6 hours excluding breaks is required.
People with obvious difficulties or physical impediments, or with precarious health conditions, cannot participate.