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