Genga

What to know

Immersed in the heart of the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Nature Park, Genga is a village of medieval origin that arose along the ancient road climbing the Esino valley towards the Apennines, in a territory carved by deep gorges and covered in thick woods. A fief of the counts of Genga, it was the birthplace of Pope Leo XII and for centuries controlled a territory of gorges, woods and mountains of great natural value, along the routes that connected the coast to the hinterland. The small old town, encircled by walls, preserves the intimate atmosphere of the Apennine villages, with its castle church, stone alleys and views that open onto the surrounding valleys. But Genga's fame is above all tied to its extraordinary underground and spiritual heritage: the famous Frasassi Caves, among the most spectacular karst complexes in Europe, and the rock sanctuary that safeguards the Tempietto del Valadier, set into the rock. Awarded the Orange Flag of the Touring Club, the village is today one of the most visited destinations in the Marche, capable of uniting within a few kilometres nature, art and devotion in a landscape of rare beauty, where the silence of the mountains alternates with the mysterious allure of the underground world. The seasons mark the life of the valley, from the vivid colours of autumn to the winter mists that envelop the rock walls, while the waters of the Esino and the Sentino continue to shape an environment of great charm, an ideal destination for those seeking authenticity and contact with nature.

What to see

The main attraction is the Frasassi Caves, an immense complex of karst cavities with stalactites, stalagmites and monumental chambers such as the Abisso Ancona, visitable along a highly evocative equipped route that winds among concretions, small lakes and plays of light. Not far away, set into a rock wall, is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria infra Saxa with the neoclassical Tempietto del Valadier, an architectural jewel overlooking the gorge and a destination of ancient devotion. Worth seeing is the castle village of Genga with the church of San Clemente and the Speleopaleontological Museum, which safeguards fossil finds and the ichthyosaur discovered in the area, a precious witness of a remote past. All around, the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Park offers trails, rock faces for climbing, hermitages and breathtaking panoramas among rivers and mountains, between sheer limestone walls and shady valleys. The area is ideal for trekking, caving and cycle tourism, and makes it easy to reach Fabriano, city of paper, Serra San Quirico and the other art towns of the valley. There is no shortage of hermitages hidden among the rocks, ancient places of contemplation clinging to the walls, and natural belvederes from which the gaze embraces the entire gorge. Every corner of the territory tells of the encounter between the patient work of nature and the long presence of man, in a succession of views that surprise the visitor in every season of the year.

What to eat

The cuisine of Genga is the robust fare of the Marche Apennines, tied to the products of the woods and of livestock rearing, the fruit of a rural tradition handed down from generation to generation. Among the first courses one savours tagliatelle, passatelli and vincisgrassi, the rich lasagne of the Marche, often enriched with the truffle of the surrounding mountains, which these woods bestow in several varieties over the course of the year. Not to be missed are the crescia and the local cured meats, from the spreadable ciauscolo to salame, accompanied by sheep's cheeses and wood-fired bread, fragrant and aromatic. Porcini mushrooms, chestnuts, pulses and game complete a simple and generous table, which follows the rhythm of the seasons and the gifts of the undergrowth. Giving character to the dishes is the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi wine, produced in the nearby hills, together with the local reds of full flavour. Among the desserts there is no shortage of crostate, ciambelloni and biscuits of the rural tradition, often prepared at home according to ancient recipes and served at the end of festive meals. The village festivals, often tied to the products of the undergrowth and to seasonal celebrations, are the ideal occasion to discover these authentic flavours in the welcoming atmosphere of the restaurants and farm holiday inns of the valley, where genuine hospitality goes hand in hand with a glass of wine and the telling of local traditions, in a convivial gathering that unites the generations and celebrates the deep bond between the community and its land.