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Itineraries in the Gran Sasso-Laga National Park |
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FAIETE PEAK (1915M) AND RUINS OF THE MONASTERY OF ST. MARIA DEL MONTE Starting point: Assergi, fossa di Paganica Ascent: 200 metres Approx. Return 3hours Route markers: none Return: Circular return The itinerary is just in the central part of Campo Imperatore, a plane with an average altitude of 6oo metres. The ancient Campo Radduro preserves a particular fascination. The suggested itinerary is a ring around the ruins of the monastery of Santa Maria del Monte, built in 1222. from Assergi you go up through S.S. 17 bis as far as Fossa di Paganica near the crossroad which goes down to Campo Nevada where a hotel plant stands. After parking the car on the road edge you go (direction E.S.E.) through a grassy path which leads to Faiete peak (1915). Beautiful and numerous flowerings of Alpine poppies with white petals and dark blue gentianelles can be admired at the beginning of the summer. The landscape of Campo Imperatore and at its back the rocky mass of Corno grande are beautiful and interesting as well. From the peak you go on through the mountain side as far as the visible ruins of the monastery and to the lake of Passaneta. From the lake you come back (direction W.N.W.) going up to a small rocky gorge and approaching a beautiful little valley overlooked on the right by Faiete peak. Going on through a little valley you go beyond Barisciano Lake as far as S.S. 17 bis. As soon as you can turn right, leaving on the left Le Fossette, you get starting point. |
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MONTE SIELLA (2027 M) Starting point: Campo Imperatore Fonte Vetica (1632m) Ascent: 395m Approx: 3 hours Route markers: yellow-red Return: Vado di Siella –Fonte vetica The last mountin towards the Adriatic sea. It belongs to the long chain of Gran Sasso beinning from the Il Passo delle Capannelle ending at Vado di Sole. The Apennine Alpine star grows on this mountain. After the excursion we suggest a visit to the Castel del Monte (1346m), where very good pecorino cheese is produced. It would be interesting wandering among the narrow winding street of the typical Mountain village with its stone houses and old walls. The little church of St. Rocco deserves a visit in order to admire the carved wooden altar covered with gold film. Another church Madonna del Suffragio shows a statue of the Madonna dressed in local costume and the 800 century portal. From Assergi or Castel del Monte you get to Fonte Vetica first through S.S. 17 bis, then at the crossroads of St. Egidio you go to the Refuge of Fonte Vetica (1632m). From the refuge, open in summer, you follow the path which crosses the pine reforestation, skirting on the left a small channel, going up and up with narrow bends as far as Fonte Fredda (1994m). you go on the right along the edge as far as the peak of Monte Siella (2027m). From the peak, along the opposite edge, climbing down as far as Vado di Siella (1725m). from here you get back to Fonte Vetica following a path leading to the plane. |
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TRAVERSATA SUD NORD Starting point: Ruins of St. Egidio, 1km after the crossroads leading to the Campo Imperatore hotel Ascent: 680 m Approx.: 8 hours Route markers : yellow-red n.17 Return: by car Spectacular walk across the long Cordillera of the Gran Sasso. We suggest this itinerary from South to North in order to avoid the steep ascents of Vado di Piaverano from the North Side. If you leave early in the morning you will enjoy the light at dawn which illuminates the fascinating rocky plane of Corno Grande looming suddenly from the plane of Campo Imteratore. It is necessary to arrange cars on the other side because it is a crossing. From Castel del Monte or from Assergi you go across the S.S. leding to Campo Imperatore. At a crossroad you turn towards St. Egidio and the hotel of Campo Imperatore. You park the car after one km from the crossroad. On the right you find the ruins of St. Egidio surrounded by shelters for shepherds. On your right you can see the path, large and straight, going towards the plane and Vado di Piaverano You go on crossing the planes of Campo Imperatore along a well marked track. After an unsurfaced road you go on (direction N.E.9 as far as crossroad which starts climbing and you go on on the left leaving on the right the narrow path leading to Torri di Casanova. You go on towards North and at this point the route is a bit challenging and you get to Vado di Piaverano. From the Vado you start climbing down on the Northen side and through a winding bends you get to a less steepy area. Following the North direction you get to the typical church of Santa Colomba (1234m) and from here you get to the unsurfaced road coming from Pretara and Isola del Gran Sasso. |
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THE CASTLE OF ROCCA CALASCIO Starting point: Calascio (AQ) Ascent: 280 m Approx.: 30 minutes Route markers: none Return: unsurfaced road parallel to the outward route The castle of Rocca Calascio is one of the examples of the building of many castle after the Federico II and the return of Transhumance, a social and economical phenomenon crucial for Abruzzo. The castle, on the top of an edge, dominating the north side of Campo Imperatore and the south side of the highland of Navelli as far as the Conca Aquilana. Spectacular in its white stones and with cylindrical towers the castle looms in the distance. Its high and panoramic position has inspired lots of film directors when setting their science-fiction or medieval stories (Conan the Barbarian and Lady Hawke). Nearby there it is worth visiting the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio belonged to the Medici with its cylindrical tower and its shield of the Medici on the door to the village. After parking the car near a fountain you can get to the top through a narrow path. Following the path you reach in half an hour the castle. You get into the castle through a bridge. Interesting is the octagonal oratory. From here you get back to the fountain where you had parked your car. |
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VALLE D'ANGRI E VOLTIGNO Starting point: Farindola (491m) Ascent: 690 Approx.: 3 hours Route markers: yellow-red 21-22 Return: Same route Valle D’Angri and Voltigno are characteristic and precious places from the naturalistic point of view because of the botanic variety and fauna. Hawks, eagles, buzzards, wolfs, roe-bucks, badgers, wild cats, and even bears once popular in these places can be spotted. Certainly interesting is the highland of Voltigno because of the dolines typical of the kasrstic landscape with its round depression in which water is absorbed and flows underneath. Endemisms are important in these places and the ranunculus deserves a mention. From Farindola you go up as far as the entrance of the valley (Mortaio d’Anri 695m). the path starts just after the bar and is marked with yellow-red flags. Climbing up the valley along the river you get to a point where the path diverts on the left. You go on as far as a crossroad where you take left along a path marked with N. 22 . The path goes up the beech wood as far as St. Thomas fountain (1315m) and reaches the road to Vado di Focina (1383m) overlooking the highland of Voltigno. Return: same itinerary. |
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FIUMANA REFUGE (1720) FROM PADULA Starting point : Padula (990m) Ascent: 730 m Approx.: 4 hours Route markers : partially marked Return: Circular return The itinerary goes up to theTordino Valley, the river of Teramo. The landsace is wild and rich of greenery and waters. You can camp near the refuge. There is a little stream there. You can get to Padula, one of so many remotest villages of the Laga. To get there you have to take on the right at the crossroad near Frontarola You go on along the winding road past the little valleys, villages, hamlets as far as Padula (930m). From here you walk towards Macchiatornella. Just before the bridge across the Tordino, you take on the right. You go past an iron bridge and get to the Rifugio della Fiumana.situated in a beautiful little valley, rich of waters. On the way back you can go along the river banks minding the slippery slabs of rock. You go beyond a closed refuge and and you come back to the starting itionerary, near the iron little bridge of the Fosso della Cavata. |
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MOUNTAIN OF FLOWERS – PISELLI AND GIRELLA MOUNTAINS Starting point: St. Giacomo (1105m) Ascent: 400 m Approx.: 6 hours (12km) Route markers: none Return: Circular return The mountain of flowers, situated just above Teramo and Ascoli, in an outpost of the Laga mountains but with a particular characterization due to the abundance of vegetation, waters and colours. This mountain is not not so cvisited as the Gran Sasso and Laga. The two main peaks, Piselli mountain and Girella mountain are separated by the deep and mysterious gorges of Salinello Which give shelter to the golden eagle and the rare Hydromantes Italicus. Since 1990 the gorges of Salinello are regional nature reserve. The importance of the place is linked to the archaeology: since pre-historical times, in fact, the caves were lived in. Some ruins of the place are kept in Campovalano musum. From Teramop going towards Civitella, just before the village ata crossroad for Ripe you turn left. Going past the village you go on as far as St. Giacomo and then to the skiing plant of Pselli mountain. You can leave the car here and walk as far as the Cspsnna. From here you go on to the left and reach the Laghetto (1653m). from the Laghetto you go up along the Southern ridge as far as the Monte Pisci peak (1676m). then you come back to the Laghetto and go on , south direction as far as the Capanna Ticchiarelli (1706m). Once reached the Monte Girella you start climbing down going past the lake (1620m) and you get to starting point (Capanna). |
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MONTAGNA DEI FIORI - LE GOLE DEL
SALINELLO and CASTEL MANFRINO Starting point: Macchia da sole (891m) Ascent: 450m Approx.: Return 4 hours (10 km) Route markers: well marked route Return: Circular return Spectacular itinerary of great archaeological naturalistic and cultural interest; well known excursions in one of the remotest places on the Apenines. It starts from Gole del Salinello where thousands of years ago men from the bronze age lived, but even recently we have ruins of Benedictine monasteries. Eagles and hawks nest in these gorges. First you get to the mysterious ruins of Castel Manfrino (12th, 13th centuries, built on the ruins of round castrum by the Swavian king Manfredi to protect the borders between the kingdom of Naples and Papal States. From Macchia del Sole (831m) lonely village and Montagna dei fiori (road from Teramo to Campovalano) and Garufo or from Ascoli to Civitella del Tronto. The unsurfaced road become then a path skirting the north bank of the Salinello brook and leading to the Santangelo hermitage (507m). from here you go up westward to 810 metres and then down to Fosso del Lago (516m), and then up again to the ruins of Castel Manfrino (963m). following the rocky edge you get to a little saddle and from here you go down for a bit and then up again as far as the starting point Macchia da Sole. |
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PIANA DEI CAVALIERI (1426 m) Starting point: Colle frattale (847m) Ascent: 580 m Approx.: 3 hors (5km) Route markers : unsurfaced road Return: same route or circular return The Laga is rich of little treasures concealed in the greenery and waters. Most itineraries are known only to shepherds, woodcutters and mushroom seekers. On crossing these places you can rediscover magic atmospheres belonging to ancient times. Piana dei Cavalieri is a large plateau at the confluence of numerous little rivers. You get there from North-East. The road is closed to the traffic just outside the villages of Morrice and Colle Frattale. You park the car here and walk on bordering the Castellano brook. At a crossroad you take on the left. At a second crossroad keeping on the left you go on along the valley leaving on your right the forest of San Gerbone. You get now to the large Piana dei Cavalieri at the head of the valley. From here you can choose walking up towards the edge and Sella di Jaccio Porcelli; this takes you to the Pizzo di Svevo. You can go down to the Monte Pelone, Colle Romicito and Cima Campuna leading to the starting point. |
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ALLE CASCATE DELLA MORRICANA ( THROUGH THE BOSCO DELLA MARTESE) Starting point: Il Ceppo (1324m) Ascent: 690m Approx.: 6 hours (15 km) Route markers: not well marked Return: Circular return It is a circular route crossing one of the most beautiful woods on the Apenines. Rich of edible boletus. Among beech trees and white pine trees you get to the falls of Morricana. It is a well-known itinerary. Excursions on this mountain has been discovered only recently. We suggest to stop at the restaurant Julia in order to taste delicious local cooking. From Ceppo (an hour by car from Teramo). You park the car here and you enjoy walking through little falls, brooks, getting into the wood of Martese. Walking on along the path you cross the ditch of Valle Castellana and going on towards North and Costa delle Solagne you get to the refuge of Comunità Montana and to the Folds of Morricana still used by shepherds. You can admire now the Falls. From here you go up as far as Lacci di Verre (2032m) and then down towards the Orso dry lake. Then along the left path you get back to the starting point Il Ceppo. |
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IL GRANDE ANELLO Prati di Tivo -
Campo Imperatore - Prati di Tivo Starting point: Prati di Tivo di Pietracamela Ascent: 910 m Approx.: 10-12 hours (23km) Rote markers: yellow-red Return: Circular return From Prati di Tivo (1450m), you take the road towards South-West, leading to some hotels. Before getting to the first one you take on the left the route entering the beech wood. You carry on this way until you find a path which from Val Maone gets to La Sella deui Grilli. At a crossroad you take on the left climbing up the slope to Campo Pericoli. You go past the Garibaldi refuge and get to Sella di Monteaquila (2335m). from here following the well-marked path, you go down as far as Albergo di Campo Imperatore and to the refuge where you can eat and sleep and get to Vado di Corno the morning after (about 3km) road and then unsurfaced. From Vado di Corno (1924m) you go down, through a comfortable path to the refuge D’Arcangelo (you can get the key from the Town Hall Isola del Gran sasso). Before gett8ing to the refuge at a crossroad, you take to the right entering the wood. You follow the path as far as the unsurfaced road where you find a fountain called Fonte Nera (1060m). you go past an iron bridge, a small dam and at a crossroad you take to the left and get to the little church of San Nicola (1096m). you carry on climbing up the wood and get to Cima Alta (1650m) and from there to the starting point Prati di Tivo. |
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AL FONDO DELLA SALSA BASE PARETE
NORD DEL CAMICIA Starting point: Castelli – Teramo Ascent: 410 m Approx.: 2 hours Rote markers: yellow red Return: Same itinerary It is a very spectacular itinerary leding, through beech woods and grassy slopes to the notorious North face of Monte Camicia. Very dangerous face, often wet and falling dangerous rocks. The starting point is Castelli, a very well-known village for its pottery. You go past the Pottery school and after three kms you fond the route o the right (yellow sign) you follow the path as far as a hill overlooking the north face. You follow the path and get to a crossroad. You go on the left as far as another crossroad; you take to the right as far as the brook until you get to the foot of the North Face and in from of you there is a Fall. It is advisable not to get too near the face because of falling rocks. Return: same route. |
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