from Cupramontana to Santa Maria Nuova
Beautiful hilly stage of the TraversaMarche tour, with modest height differences, quite long, sparsely populated, overall pleasant and relaxing.
The route, which starts in Cupramontana, then runs along gentle and green slopes, partly on paved roads and streets, partly on dirt roads, passing through the small fraction of San Michele, then through San Paolo di Jesi, then continuing for a long stretch in the countryside, until the arrival in Santa Maria Nuova.
The route includes some short sections on provincial roads (not the busiest), where necessary.
You leave the historic center of Cupramontana, going down the stairs east of the central square,
and turn left onto Via Giacomo Leopardi,
which shortly after you leave to turn right into Via Giovanni Bovio:
This soon joins the SP 9, but immediately afterwards, before the intersection with Via Spontini, you turn sharply to the right in Via Valle:
The road initially descends towards the north-east,
immediately entering the country:
After a few turns, at the end of a straight,
you turn left at a fork, entering Via Contrada Colonara, initially northwards:
You proceed on this,
until you reach the small hamlet of San Michele:
Less than 300 m after the church, you turn sharply to the right, downhill, along Via San Michele,
which immediately presents a couple of hairpin bends, then continue with various curves, still downhill:
At the junction with Contrada Spescia, you turn left onto Via Follonica,
and after a couple of bends, you follow the right branch:
When you come across a few houses, you turn left:
The hilly landscape, illuminated by the morning sun, gives its best:
Cupramontana is farther and farther behind:
At the next junction you keep to the right,
always following Via Follonica, while you approach San Paolo di Jesi:
You follow Via Follonica,
which finally bends to the left,
taking the name of Via Peschereccia, when you enter San Paolo di Jesi:
Here you turn sharply left onto Via Contrada delle Lame, and shortly after to the right,
to join SP 35 after less than 300 m:
You travel less than 1000 m on the provincial road,
with due care, although it is not very busy, then at a roundabout turn right, towards Via San Giuseppe, heading south,
and then pass an industrial warehouse:
At the next junction, you turn to the left along Via Contrada Coste:
Continue in the countryside, keeping on the same road, for about 3 km:
At a certain point, behind the hills, Jesi and its surroundings can be seen:
The road turns right,
and after about 200 m it joins the SP 502:
You follow it for less than 500 m, with due care, and then leave it, turning left, heading east on a small road:
Now the area of Jesi is more visible:
You join Via Grangalia Alta:
You follow it eastwards for about 2 km,
enjoying the picturesque landscape,
and leaving a large farmhouse on the right:
At the next crossroads you continue straight on:
After a couple of bends, beyond some hills with signs of erosion, Santa Maria Nuova can be seen in the distance:
Soon you pass the small church of Santa Maria del Colle,
then you continue straight ahead, following Via Santa Maria del Colle, heading north:
About 1000 m after the church, turn right onto a dirt road,
that goes up to a rural house:
You pass the house keeping to your left, on a country track:
You pass a passive repeater,
and continue,
until you reach the domes of a small astronomical observatory:
Youc ontinue straight, now on a small road, downhill,
until it crosses, in correspondence of a sharp curve, the SP 362, a very busy road:
You cross it with the necessary caution, to take, in front, the branch of Via Minonna that leads to Santa Maria Nuova, to the north-east:
Just before entering the village, you turn right into Via Scarpara Alta,
thus reaching the end, the B&B Il Giardino delle Rose:
Santa Maria Nuova is well connected with Jesi by bus, so you have the opportunity to visit the city, especially the historic center, surrounded by imposing medieval walls, and rich in history and monuments.
The map indicates the bus stop/station in the two places, and also the B&B Casa di Paola, for a possible overnight stay.
Consult the bus timetable on the ATMA website.
■ gb, 2019-06-14