The full moon will lead us to some enchanting places in the least known area of Abruzzo National Park. The view of the Mainarde mountains is unique for its natural features, for the sight of bright peaks and for the uncomparable silence and solitude of the valley. These places are home to a lot of chamoises, deers, wolves and golden eagles. On our way we can discover unique landscapes and the little villages we will encounter are characterized by simple but strong traditions that hide cultural and artistic features to be discovered.

Detail

The mountains in the Lazio and Molise part of the Park are mostly associated with the Christmas period. There are the Christmas lights and the roasted chestnuts, and also the Italian pipers. The bagpipe is a quite important culture in Molise, and to discover it you would only have to visit one of the lesser known places in the Italian mountains. Places like the high Valle del Volturno and the Val di Comino are surprising also for their remarkable nature.

Coming from Molise and the village of Pizzone, the view after the hairpin bends which bring you to Pianoro Le Forme, is made of pure wildness. During this three days we will explore this beautiful and remote area.

Difficult

Moderate The hike has no technical difficulties, it takes place on mountain trails in wooded areas and meadows with easy climbs and descents.

Elevation gain

500 m up and down each day

Length

7-10 km each day

“

Il lupo è ecologia, è scienza, è evoluzione. Il lupo è un simbolo, è la nostra storia. Il lupo è la nostra immaginazione, la nostra fantasia. Il lupo è racconto, arte, pedagogia. Il lupo attrae, anche se non lo si vede, affascina, ripaga. Il lupo è il respiro dei nostri affanni, delle nostre paure, delle nostre certezze. Il lupo è mistero, è spiritualità. Il lupo è l’anima della foresta, l’ombra dei luoghi selvaggi, l’odore dell’istinto. Non proteggere il lupo sarebbe un errore che le generazioni future non ci perdonerebbero mai.

Paolo Ciucci

Costs

What is included

Guide and organization
Accommodation half board tratment in a family-managed hotel

What is escluded

Any transports
Extra and personal expenses

Itinerary

Day 1Pianoro Le Forme and Mainarde mountain chain

Arrival to the village of Pizzone, in the afternon accomodation of participants in the hotel and introduction of the guide. In the evening there will be a short hike dedicated to the traks the wild animals. We will wait for the moonlight to hear the sounds of the forest and, if we are lucky, we will hear also the howling of the wolf. Return to the hotel, dinner by the fire and overnight stay.

Day 2Monte Meta, a terrace over three region

After a hearty breakfast departure from “Pianoro Le Forme” to reach “Passo dei Monaci” pass. The itinerary allows you to spot certainly deers and chamoises but offers also great opportunities depending on the presence of the Apennine Wolf and the Marsican Bear. For those who want, we will reach the top of the Mount Meta. From this top you can observe the three sides of Abruzzo National Park: towards the Gran Sasso d’Italia, the Majella massif and Capri and Ischia islands, if there are good weather conditions. In the afternoon return in the valley and a cup of hot chocolate.

Day 3Valle di Mezzo and S. Vincenzo al Volturno

During the winter the “Valle di Mezzo” valley is populated by a lot of animals that descend into the valley in search of food, because of the snow on the tops of the Mainarde mountain chain. We will cross downhill a forest rich in beech and oak trees until we will reach the village of Pizzone. Then lunch in agritourism with local products and in the afternoon transfer to the village of Castel San Vincenzo. A real artistic treasure, known to the specialists from all over the world, is kept in the ancient Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno. In the evening departure of the participants.

Highlights

The chickpeas and codfish soup, a typical dish of Molise region, accompanied by a full-bodied wine (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo)
The moonligth that illuminates the peaks of the Mainarde mountain chain of Molise
Lunch in “Costantini” agritourism near the fireplace and in a relaxing atmosphere
The real chance to spot or hear the wolves in the forest

Accommodation

Accommodation can be organized by our tour leader in small lovely small family managed hotel

What to bring

We reccomend you to dress in layers. Trekking shoes, water bottle, backpack, long pants, hat and wool gloves, jacket, down jacket, sun protection cream. We always recommend wearing a t-shirt to spare in your backpack.

How reach us

Pizzone is one of the village of Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park, the oldest Italian protected area; it has guaranteed a life in harmony with nature for almost a century. You can easily reach it by car through two access points. FROM ROME (Highway A1 Naples – Rome): highway A1 until San Vittore del Lazio exit, enter SS85 towards Venafro and then proceed SS158 until Alfedena/Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo exit. FROM PESCARA (Highway A25 Roma – Pescara): from Pescara highway A25 until Pratola Peligna exit, go on towards SS17 until Pescasseroli. FROM NAPLES (Highway A1 Naples – Rome): from Naples highway A1 until Caianello exit, enter SS85 towards Venafro and then proceed SS158 until Alfedena/Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo exit.

You can arrive by bus thanks to daily connections from Venafro. Check the timetable on the the website www.casna.it. Connections by train are only until Venafro station. For those who come from Rome it is possible to check the timetable of company that connects Roma to Molise.