The Sirente

The Itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival
The Sirente region is easily accessible from Rome or Pescara on the Adriatic coast. We will pick you up at your arrival and transport you to your accommodation. After settling in, depending on your time of arrival, we will guide you to an orientation hike, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2:
Cycling Stage 1: Three valleys: Subequana, Peligna and Aterno – 72km – 1600 mts total climb

The three valleys are quite distinct; the Subequana, where we are staying is a wide crater with five villages; after reaching a col, we descend into the Peligna, a fertile plain with Sulmona, Ovidio’s birth place, on one end. Then through a narrow gorge we reach the Aterno Valley, with several villages perched on steep inclines.

Day 3:
Hike 1: Rifugio Sebastiani

Rifugio Sebastiani located in the heart of the Velino group, is an important hub for local trails. Excellently managed by the Equo Rifugio cooperative, Sebastiani is the ideal base for ascending to most of the group’s peaks. We start our hike at Campo Felice following a trail which goes up the wide and wooded Leona valley until we reach the wide open spaces of the Puzzillo valley, which offers an unforgettable panorama, allthe way to the Sebastiani. From there we climb further to Cima Trento, before returning to the Sebastiani for an excellent meal.

Day 4:
Cycling Stage 2: Le piane del Sirente – 80 km – 1786 mts total climb

After a 10km climb we reach the stunning panorama of the Sirente plain and admire we peaks that we will climb tomorrow; after traversing the plain, another climb to a col and we reach the expanse of the Plain of Rocca di Mezzo. After a coffee, we descend to the Aterno Valley, visit the Stiffe caves and return, counting the medieval towers along the valley

Day 5:
Hike 2: Sirente top

The first section of the climb is through a magnificent beech forest. Once we exit it at 1700m we are in the realm of the chamoix. The climb is not technically difficult but the incline is challenging. Our guide will narrate the history of this mountain from the geology to the ice trade, when people would take their mules to collect the snow and take it to railway stations in the valley, for it to be transported to the coast. Indeed we will see the coast from the top of Sirente at 2349m

Day 6:
Cycling Stage 3: Caramanico and the Maiella – 98 km – 1628 mts total climb

Yesterday, from the top of Sirente we could see the Majella massif to the East. Today we will be riding to its feet. After passing the Venanzo Gorge, and the Peligna valley we start a steady climb, never steeper than 6%, past the spa town of Caramanico, to the col, from where the magnificence of the Majella is spread in front of us. We descend on the other side stopping at the towered medieval town of Pacentro for lunch. A few more km downhill and we arrive in Sulmona, from where we take the train back

Day 7:
Hike 3 – San Venanzio Gorges and Wine Cellars

In the morning we follow a trail along a dramatic gorge that has a lot of history, Roman and medieval. The afternoon is devoted to visits to local vineyards and cellars, ending with an apericena on a treehouse

Day 8:
Cycling stage 4: Scanno – 78km, 1400m

The last ride takes us to Abruzzo National Park, the oldest park ever established in Italy. The first climb takes us to the largest European eolian park and then down to Cucullo, famous for its May Day procession, when the statue of San Domenico is adorned with dozens of snakes. Anversa degli Abruzzi marks the entrance to the wild Sagittario gorges. The road clinges to the rock with breathtaking views of the emerald creek far below. You have plenty of photo opts in the long but never steep climb to Villalago. You circle around the Lake of Scanno, its still waters mirroring the mountains around, and arrive in town. Thanks to its landscapes Scanno has been a favourite hang-out of photographers and painters. If you like a little shopping the town is also celebrated for its fine jewerly and laces art-works. We ride back to Sulmona and catch a train back, which climbs up the mountain to give us a last look at the Peligna Valley.

Day 9: Van transfer back to Rome/Pescara – Departure