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Walking in Abruzzo

Gran Sasso, Maiella and Abruzzo National Parks, and Sirente-Velino Regional Park

Pre-order - Publishing 30 June 2025

This book is available to pre-order. Payment will be taken upfront and your book will be dispatched from our warehouse as soon as it becomes available around the 30 June 2025.

ISBN

9781852849788

Availability

Reprinting

Published

11 Jan 2019

Reprinted

30 Jun 2025

Edition

Second

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

280g

Delivery & Returns

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...

Guidebook for walking in Abruzzo, a wild region of Italy incorporating the Abruzzo, Maiella, and Gran Sasso national parks and the Sirente-Velino regional park. 40 day walks are described including an ascent of Corno Grande, the highest point in the Apennines of peninsular Italy. The area is easily reached from the airports at Pescara and Rome.

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.

Pre-order

Publishing 30 June 2025

This book is available to pre-order. Payment will be taken upfront and your book will be dispatched from our warehouse as soon as it becomes available around the 30 June 2025.

ISBN

9781852849788

Availability

Reprinting

Published

11 Jan 2019

Reprinted

30 Jun 2025

Edition

Second

Pages

256

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm

Weight

280g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

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

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

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

Updates

October 2023

Walk 12

A recent report suggests that the traverse of Monte Camicia from Vado di Ferruccio to the summit has become more serious and should now be considered a mountaineering route. There is probably more loose rock and the way is more insecure. Fixed protection points have been added indicating that parties may now choose to rope up for the scrambling sections. The consequences of a fall could be very serious. The advice is not to do the traverse unless you are confident in scrambling at height and experienced in moving on loose rock on steep ground, using hands and feet. A helmet is also recommended.

October 2022

Path closures

Path closures are quite common in Abruzzo, which is an area that is seismically active and suffers from landslips from time to time. We advise that you check in advance. Information can usually be found in the visitor centres.

Downloads

Walking in Abruzzo - GPX File

By Stuart Haines

Stuart Haines is a walker, mountain lover, guidebook writer, project manager and occasional viticulturalist. His explorations of the remoter corners of central Italy began in 2004, following many years of climbing and adventuring in the Alps, North America and his native UK. Since 2007 he has been based between Bristol, England, and Casa La Rocca, the country house in the heart of Abruzzo that he renovated with his partner, Hil.

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