A guidebook to 40 day walks in Italy’s Abruzzo region. Exploring the wild region near Rome, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike and are perfect for walking May through October.

Routes range from 4-25km (2-16 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2-8 hours. Key bases include L’Aquila, Sulmona, Castel di Sangro, and the Maiella and Gran Sasso national parks and Sirente-Velino regional park.

• 1:50,000 maps included for each walk
• GPX files available to download
• Detailed information on planning, access and accommodation
• Highlights include Val di Rose, the Prati di Tivo, and Corno Grande
• Information given on local geology and wildlife

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

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.

October 2023

Walk 12

October 2022

Path closures

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