Walking in Abruzzo

Just two hours from Rome, Abruzzo is one of Italy's wildest and most rewarding walking regions, yet it remains largely unknown to international visitors. Three national parks and a regional park encompass a dramatic landscape of high Apennine ridges, deep gorges, ancient villages and some of the richest wildlife in Europe, including wolves, Marsican brown bears, chamois and golden eagles.

With walks suitable for beginners and experienced mountain walkers alike, this Cicerone guidebook by Stuart Haines covers 40 day walks across Abruzzo, ranging from 4 to 25km (2 to 16 miles) and taking between 2 and 8 hours to complete. Route descriptions are paired with 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files, with practical guidance on access, accommodation and getting around the region.

• 40 graded walks are included across four protected areas, covering the Maiella, Gran Sasso, Abruzzo and Sirente-Velino parks, with routes graded 1 to 3 from straightforward valley walks to mountain routes requiring experience in exposed terrain
• 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files for every walk, with an Italian-English glossary, notes on local geology, wildlife, food and drink, and detailed information on planning and access
• Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines of peninsular Italy at 2912m, is covered with two distinct ascent routes from Campo Imperatore, one of the most dramatic high plateaux in the Italian mountains
• Exceptional wildlife throughout, with Abruzzo National Park one of the few places in Europe where you can walk in genuine wilderness habitat supporting wolves, Marsican brown bears, Apennine chamois and Eurasian lynx
• Dramatic landscapes can be found at every turn, from the Fara San Martino gorge and the Val di Rose in the Abruzzo National Park to the medieval village of Rocca Calascio and the high plateau of Campo Imperatore

Abruzzo is Italy's best-kept secret for mountain walkers, offering serious Apennine terrain and extraordinary wildlife in a region that most visitors to Italy never reach. This guidebook is the essential companion for discovering it.

Seasons

Most routes are accessible from May until October. Summer can be hot but late arriving snows may extend the season into November. Spring and autumn can be perfect for the lower routes.

Centres

Sulmona is central and well located for all parks. L'Aquila is in the north and Castel di Sangro the south.

Difficulty

Walks graded 1 (a straightforward wander that may involve a climb) to 3 (for those comfortable with mountain conditions, exposure and route finding)

Must See

Abruzzo, Maiella, and Gran Sasso national parks and the Sirente-Velino regional park. Corno Grande, the highest point in the Apennines of peninsular Italy.

Map key

Overview map

Location of walks

Introduction

Abruzzo

Geological history

Human history

Animals and birds

Plants and flowers

Food and drink

Walking in Abruzzo

When to go

Getting there

Getting around

Places to base yourself

Daily essentials

Maps

Using this guide

Advice for the trail

The Maiella National Park

Walk 1 Fara San Martino gorge and Val Serviera

Walk 2 The hermitage of San Bartolomeo di Legio

Walk 3 Monte Morrone from Passo San Leonardo

Walk 4 Morrone di Pacentro and Monte Mileto

Walk 5 The Orfento valley

Walk 6 Caramanico and the Orfento gorge

Walk 7 Monte Amaro from Lama Biancha

Walk 8 Monte Amaro from La Maielletta

Walk 9 Monte Amaro from Fonte Romana

Walk 10 The Alento valley above Serramonacesca

Walk 11 Monte Porrara ridge

Corno Grande and Campo Imperatore

Walk 12 Monte Prena and Monte Camicia

Walk 13 Santo Stefano and Rocca Calascio

Walk 14 The west summit of Corno Grande

Walk 15 The east summit of Corno Grande

Walk 16 Campo Pericoli and Pizzo Cefalone

Walk 17 Monte Bolza ridge

Walk 18 Pietracamela and Prati di Tivo

Walk 19 Monte Corvo and the Val Chiarino

Monti Della Laga

Walk 20 Monte di Mezzo circuit from Campotosto

Walk 21 Cima della Laghetta and Monte Gorzano

The Abruzzo National Park

Walk 22 Villetta Barrea and Civitella Alfedena

Walk 23 The Val di Rose

Walk 24 Monte La Meta and the Mainarde crest

Walk 25 La Terratta

Walk 26 The Scanno town and lake loop

Walk 27 Serra del Campitello and Monte Godi

Walk 28 Monte Marsicano

Walk 29 Colli Alti and Bassi from Pescasseroli

Sulmona Valley and Monte Genzana

Walk 30 Anversa degli Abruzzi and Castrovalva

Walk 31 Monte Mattone from Pettorano sul Gizio

Walk 32 Monte Genzana from Pettorano sul Gizio

Walk 33 A tour of the Valle del Gizio

The Sirente-Velino Regional Park

Walk 34 Monte Sirente

Walk 35 The Celano gorge via Fonte degli Innamorati

Walk 36 Monte Velino

Walk 37 Monte Ocre

Walk 38 Fontecchio and Pagliare di Tione

Walk 39 The Navelli plain

The Simbruini Regional Park

Walk 40 Monte Viglio

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Further access information

Appendix C Italian–English glossary

Appendix D Useful contacts