Cascate Perdute

The Tennacola runs below Sarnano, where three named waterfalls are associated with a landscape shaped by both water and generations of local use.

Why it matters

The Tennacola has three named waterfalls near Sarnano: the Cascata dell'Antico Molino, the Cascata "de lu Vagnatò" and the Cascatelle dei Romani. Their surroundings preserve traces of practical use, including a mill, a bathing pool and a washing basin.

What to notice

The Cascata dell'Antico Molino takes its name from a mill beside the water. "De lu Vagnatò" recalls a natural bathing pool in local dialect; an old washing basin and a small grotto are also noted nearby. At the Cascatelle dei Romani, wooden bridges cross the Tennacola.

Context and history

The Tennacola is the stream beside which the medieval castrum of Sarnano was built. The falls record generations of practical use — milling, washing and bathing. Two were described as rediscovered in 2020 after vegetation had obscured them. The valley is also associated with the Franciscan Way of the Marche and the Via Lauretana, pilgrimage routes through the area.