Departures on request April / October

Castel del Monte conquers the visitor thanks to the surrounding scenery and its intricate streets, a few kilometers away, a jewel of the Abruzzo Middle Ages: Santo Stefano di Sessanio, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Calascio, with its characteristic houses- towers, is dominated by the marvelous Rocca. This castle is considered by National Geographic to be one of the 15 most beautiful in the world. In the surroundings, it is also possible to visit the Municipality of Barisciano, Carapelle Calvisio and Castelvecchio Calvisio.

Plan:

1st day: Arrival in Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Individual arrival in Santo Stefano di Sessanio. A tiny fortified village within the Gran Sasso National Park, Santo Stefano di Sessanio is an architectural jewel of the medieval period that has been completely preserved and perfectly integrated into the surrounding landscape. Meeting with Tour Leader and briefing. We will spend the afternoon visiting the historic village (2h). Stay and dinner. Difference in altitude: 5. Walking time: 2 h.

2nd Day: The ring of the lakes of the Racollo refuge, the high mountain trails. We will move with a transfer to the Racollo refuge (10 '). After buying some cheese from the shepherd, for the scheduled PIC NIC lunch stop, from there we will leave for our trekking / nature in the Gran Sasso National Park through the path that will take us to visit the three lakes Racollo, Bassaneta and Barisciano, offers wonderful views towards the Gran Sasso. On the path we will meet the ruins of the monastery of Santa Maria del Monte, in less than an hour, from where you can enjoy a magnificent landscape. The return to the Refuge will allow us to stop. Return, stay and dinner. Difference in altitude: 400. Travel time: 5 h

Day 3: Castelvecchio Calvisio, the elliptical village at a donkey's pace, between barbican and valley paths. Walk through the villages of the Barony from Santo Stefano di Sessanio to Castelvecchio Calvisio through the Viano valley and the Santo Stefano forest. An excursion that has as its destination one of the villages of the Terre della Baronia, Castelvecchio Calvisio: an enchanting medieval village that lies on a hill at 1067 meters above sea level and overlooks the splendid Valle de Tirino. The elliptical shape (with an intersected decumanic spine) makes Castelvecchio Calvisio unique in its kind. The narrow streets covered by vaults and arches with the characteristic houses that develop on several levels, reachable thanks to the so-called "barbacani" (supports of ancient stone stairs) are another feature of the urban layout of Castelvecchio. During the excursion that runs through the Viano Valley, you may be lucky enough to spot roe deer, wild boar and other animals present in this splendid valley; it is also possible to admire a botanical species considered extinct in Italy and only recently found in the territory of Castelvecchio Calvisio, the Adonis vernalis. Children will be able to ride the donkey. Return, stay and dinner. Difference in altitude: 500. Travel time: 5 h

4th Day: Campo Imperatore and Castel del Monte, between cinema canyons and transhumance. The ring of the Barony in the Highlands. By transfer (15 ') we will reach the Mucciante refuge on the Campoimperatore plain. From there we will leave for a trekking walk on the film locations that cross the plain and sink into the Scoppaturo Canyon, location of Spaghetti Western and where in the past scenes of the film “And they kept calling it Trinity” were shot. We will cover the whole valley, going into nature until we return to the Refuge for a break. From there we will leave for Castel del Monte, the capital of Transhumance which houses a dedicated museum and (location of films such as The American with George Cloney). We will visit the historic village and then return to Santo Stefano. Stay and dinner. Difference in altitude: 400. Travel time: 5 h

5th Day: Rocca Calascio, Ladyhawke's castle. From Santo Stefano di Sessanio we will take the road to Campo Imperatore on foot. Across a plateau and then uphill in a valley (the Val Pareta) we will reach a road halfway up the coast. From there we will go up to the Renaissance oratory of Madonna dei Monti and to the fortress of Rocca Calascio, through the Monte delle Croci. The medieval fortress will welcome us with all its magnificence. Set of many films including Ladyhawke, The Name of the Rose, will fascinate us for its beauty. We will go down to the village of Calascio for a break before returning to Santo Stefano. Stay and dinner. Difference in altitude: 400. Travel time: 4 h

6th Day: Departure. End of services and return to their destinations.

Total km: 40