Abruzzo & Molise - Italy - page 1260

WALKING & WILDLIFE

With about 150 well-marked routes, signalled by white and red marks daubed on trees and rocks, the
Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise is a mecca for hikers. Trails range from easy family
jaunts to multiday hikes over rocky peaks and exposed highlands. The best time to go is between June
and September, although access to some of the busier routes around Pescasseroli is often limited in
July and August. To book entry to trails contact the Centro di Visita in Pescasseroli or the Centro
Lupo in Civitella Alfedena.
Don't set off without the official hiking map (€12) available at all local tourist offices. Note that the
time estimates given are one way only.
Two of the area's most popular hikes are the climbs up Monte Amaro (2793m; Route F1) and
Monte Tranquillo (1841m; Route C3). The Monte Amaro route , a 2¼-hour hike, starts from a car
park 7km southeast of Pescasseroli (follow the SS83 for about 2km beyond Opi) and rises steeply up
to the peaks where you're rewarded with stupendous views over the Valle del Sangro. There's quite a
good chance of spotting a chamois on this walk.
The Monte Tranquillo route takes about 2½ hours from a starting point 1km south of Pescasseroli
(follow signs for the Hotel Iris and Centro Ippico Vallecupa). If you still have your breath at the top,
you can continue northwards along the Rocca Ridge before descending down to Pescasseroli from the
north. This beautiful but challenging 19.5km circuit takes six or seven hours.
You may be lucky enough to spot an Apennine wolf or a Marsiscan brown bear on your hike: this
might sound like a scary prospect, but the animals are extremely shy, the only possible threat being
from a female bear protecting her cubs. Lynx, chamois, roe deer, wild boar, golden eagles and pereg-
rine hawks also inhabit the park, and fauna includes the rare lady's slipper orchid.

Sights & Activities

The park's main centre is lively Pescasseroli (elevation 1167m), a rather sprawling village
with an ancient core about 80km southwest of Sulmona. Situated on a hilltop 6km from
Pescasseroli is Opi , another borghi più belli d'Italia . It's one of the highest settlements in
the park and makes an attractive base.
The little Centro Visita del Camoscio (Opi; 10am-1pm & 3-7pm Sat & Sun, daily July & Aug) , a
wildlife sanctuary, studies the Apennine chamois, with a viewpoint from which you can
see the animals roaming.
On the park's eastern edge and about 17km from Opi is the picturesque Lago di Barrea
with the venerable and handsome town of Barrea positioned on a rocky spur above the
lake.
At nearby Civitella Alfedena , a seductive hamlet reached via a bridge across the lake, you
can study the local flora and fauna at the Centro Lupo (Wolf Centre;

0864 89 01 41; admission

10am-2pm & 2.30-5.30pm) , which has an impressive amount of information (in Italian €3;