Monte Subasio
1,290 m
Italy
Also known as mont SubasioAlso known as
mont Subasio
- Elevation
- 1,290 m
- Prominence
- 793 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Apr–May
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: E (CAI) (Stefano Ardito; Lo Scarpone (CAI))
Assisi's mountain: from St Francis's hermitage of the Carceri (792 m), path 350 climbs through the Vallonica woods to the Sasso Piano cross above the Valle Umbra, then over open pastures to the true summit (1,290 m) with its stone markers and panorama boards. About 500 m of ascent and 2½ hours; add 1¼ hours each way on foot from Assisi.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 5.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +500 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,290 m
- Time Up
- 2h 19m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 46m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Most walkers drive or walk up to the Eremo delle Carceri (792 m), the hermitage in a holm-oak gorge 4 km above Assisi; parking at the hermitage is scarce, so use the large car park at the last right-hand bend below it. On foot from Assisi, leave the old town by the Porta Cappuccini, pass the Rocca Minore and follow the cart track marked CAI 350/351 and the yellow-blue Via di Francesco signs along the ridge to the hermitage (about 1¼ hours). From the hermitage entrance follow the paved road towards San Benedetto; where it bends right take path 350 up the Fosso delle Carceri and through the Bosco di Vallonica to the run-down Rifugio Vallonica (about 1,060 m, 45 minutes). A contouring track to the right leads to the Croce di Sasso Piano (1,124 m, 30 minutes), a viewpoint over Assisi and the Valle Umbra. Path 350 then climbs the open pastures to the dirt road below the traditional summit (1,284 m), with an abandoned building and large antennas; head north across the meadows, briefly touching the road, and climb on path 351 to the true summit (1,290 m, about 1¼ hours). In summer tall grass may hide the path above the hut, but the way is obvious in clear weather. Return the same way (about 1½ hours to the hermitage), or loop north on path 351 to the Stazzi plateau and down path 353 through the woods. Avoid the route in snow or ice.
Start
Eremo delle Carceri807 m
- Train to Assisi (Santa Maria degli Angeli) and bus up to the town; walk from the Porta Cappuccini to the Eremo delle Carceri on CAI 350/351 (about 1¼ hours, 350 m of ascent).
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eremo delle Carceri → Monte Subasio | 5.0 | 500 | 20 | 2h 19m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Eremo delle Carceri807 m
- Hut: Rifugio Vallonica1,061 m
- Feature: Croce di Sasso Piano1,113 m
- Summit: Monte Subasio1,290 m
Key Passages
- Fosso delle Carceri and Bosco di Vallonica
- Croce di Sasso Piano viewpoint
- Summit pastures to the true summit on path 351
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The broad limestone mountain behind Assisi (1,290 m), wooded below and open pasture on top, climbed from St Francis's hermitage of the Eremo delle Carceri. An easy half-day walk with views from Lake Trasimeno to the Sibillini and the Gran Sasso.
Monte Subasio rises directly behind Assisi and Spello and separates the Valle Umbra from the Topino valley. Its lower slopes are steep and wooded with holm oak, downy oak and reforested conifers; the top is a wide, rolling plateau of pastures with karst dolines such as the 60 m deep Mortaro Grande. The traditional summit (1,284 m) carries antennas and an abandoned building; the true high point (1,290 m) is a short walk north across the meadows and has stone markers and boards naming the Apennine peaks in view, from Monte Amiata and Lake Trasimeno to the Sibillini and the Gran Sasso.
The mountain is inseparable from St Francis: the Eremo delle Carceri, where he and his companions withdrew to pray, sits in a gorge on its western flank, and the pilgrim Via di Francesco passes below. The usual ascent starts at the hermitage and takes about 2½ hours on CAI paths through the Vallonica woods and over the Sasso Piano viewpoint; it can be extended on foot from Assisi or into a longer loop past the Madonna della Spella and the Mortaro Grande. A dirt road open to traffic also crosses the top.
The Parco regionale del Monte Subasio protects the mountain. 2026 is the 800th anniversary of St Francis's death, and Assisi and the hermitage are busier than usual.
Climbing Notes
An easy walk for anyone reasonably fit: about 500 m of ascent from the hermitage, 3½–4 hours for the round trip, or 5–6 hours if you walk from Assisi or do the long loop. Paths are well marked in the woods but can disappear in tall grass on the summit pastures; carry a map (the CAI Foligno 1:25,000 sheet is recommended) and be careful in fog. There is little shade above the woods, so in summer start early and carry water. Spring and autumn are best; avoid the route in snow or ice. Start early to see the hermitage before the crowds.
History
St Francis of Assisi and his first companions used the caves of the Carceri gorge as a retreat in the early 13th century; San Bernardino da Siena rebuilt the hermitage in the 15th century. The Parco regionale del Monte Subasio was created in 1995; it was proposed by an ornithologist from San Francisco, which is twinned with Assisi, and its hunting ban has restored wildlife to the mountain.
Season
Best Apr–May- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Possible
- August: Possible
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow and ice possible; avoid when icy
- Feb
- Snow and ice possible
- Apr
- Best season (CAI)
- May
- Best season (CAI)
- Jun
- Warm; tall grass on the summit meadows
- Jul
- Hot and exposed above the woods; start very early
- Aug
- Hot and exposed; start very early
- Dec
- Short days; snow possible
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Parco regionale del Monte Subasio: hunting is banned; stay on paths and follow park rules
- The Eremo delle Carceri is a place of worship; dress and behave accordingly and respect its opening times
- Getting There
Assisi
Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi (PEG)
- Train to Assisi station (Santa Maria degli Angeli) on the Foligno–Terontola line, then bus up to the town
- On foot from Assisi's Porta Cappuccini to the Eremo delle Carceri on CAI 350/351 (about 1¼ hours)
- Car: road from Assisi to the Eremo delle Carceri; use the large car park at the last right-hand bend below the hermitage
Hazards
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,060 m
Rifugio VallonicaHutUnstaffed
Unstaffed; reported in poor condition (2026)