Spring is officially here and traveling by motorcycle in the mountains of Abruzzo, referred to by many as the little Tibet of Italy, is the dream of many centaurs, especially during this season. The region offers incredible landscapes of unspoiled nature in an atmosphere that induces inner serenity. If you love wild mountains and two wheels and want to experience an unforgettable day, then you can choose from the many Abruzzo motorcycle routes. During the ride you will be enraptured by the enchanting landscapes and guided by the scent of sheep arrosticini, “Abruzzo’s rustelle,” which are cooked on open-air braziers at roadside rest stops.
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Itinerary in Abruzzo National Park to the Sagittario Gor ges – The route winds through centuries-old forests, lakes, uninterrupted grasslands in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park to the spectacular canyon of the Sagittario Gorges.
By motorcycle, discovering ancient villages that are among the most beautiful in Italy, such as Pescasseroli surrounded by striking mountains and Scanno with its historic center of medieval origin.
For this trip, it is advisable to exit at the Pescina tollgate, which can be reached by taking the A24 and A25 Strada dei Parchi roads. After passing Pescina, heading toward Venus and Gioia dei Marsi, you will soon reach the park. Skirting the Sangro, crossing Ponte Campomizzo, Valle Chiara and arriving at Pescasseroli, you reach Villetta Barrea. From here we proceed to Scanno, skirt the lake of the same name and reach Anversa degli Abruzzi in the Sagittario Gorge Nature Reserve.
Gran Sasso and Campo Imperatore Itinerary – You can’t visit Abruzzo and not get to Campo Imperatore, the land of Abruzzo closest to the clouds and stars, the roof of the Apennines or little Tibet, as defined by Florentine traveler and mountaineer Fosco Maraini. A must-do tour for centaurs. It includes visits to several of Italy’s most beautiful ancient villages, such as Castel del Monte and Santo Stefano di Sessanio, all of medieval origin, but each strongly tied to its roots and with a well-defined historical connotation. You will reach the “highest castle in Europe,” Rocca Calascio, which will project you into distant and evocative eras, giving you emotions you will hardly forget. Curve after curve, among breathtaking and interesting views, via the Capannelle Pass, you will have reached Campo Imperatore, a must-see location for nature lovers on two wheels. Among the narrow, winding streets of Campo Imperatore you can reach the refuge that was the home and prison of Benito Mussolini, now Hotel Campo Imperatore, where precisely the road to get there crosses pristine views that take your breath away because of the immensity of the valleys where the only human testimony is the “road itself.” On the opposite side, the city that always deserves a stop is L’Aquila if only to witness solidarity with a country that has no intention of giving up despite all the problems encountered for reconstruction after the earthquake, has no intention of letting its old historic center die.
Among some of the stops on the tour are not to be missed, Sulmona, Popoli, Bussi, Ofena, Fonte Cerreto, Assergi, Paganica and Raiano. To add these wonderful places, just drive along the A24 and A25 and you decide where to exit to begin your tour.
Itinerary Sirente-Velino Natural Park from L’Aquila to Tagliacozzo, passing through Celano and the Stiffe Caves – No noise will disturb the quiet of this unique and exclusive environment, except for the discreet “rattling” of the cylinders of your motorcycle. The main peaks of the Sirente-Velino Regional Park are precisely Mount Velino and the Sirente massif. Velino is characterized by karst phenomena, such as the Stiffe Caves near San Demetrio ne’ Vestini, carved by an underground river fed with water from the Altopiano delle Rocche plateau. Motorcycling through these enchanting landscapes, one can admire numerous castles, such as the
15th-century castle of Celano and San Panfilo d’Ocre. Other stops on this tour and worth visiting are the medieval towns of Fontecchio and Castelvecchio Subequo, the church of S. Maria in Valle Porclaneta and the rural dwellings called “pagliare,” found in the territories of Fagnano, Fontecchio and Tione. It will reach Ovindoli where it is possible to see the ski facilities of Monte Magnola, while from Rocca di Mezzo and Rocca di Cambio there is access to the facilities of Campo Felice. This tour starts from L’Aquila driving along the A24 or A25, crosses the Marsica Fucense and directing the bike to Magliano dei Marsi it will be possible to reach the archaeological site of Alba Fucens and then Tagliacozzo, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. From here you turn back by diverting into the Upper Aterno Valley until you reach the Stiffe Caves, a highly recommended stop.
Itinerary in the Abruzzo National Park from Anversa degli Abruzzi to Pescasseroli – Still the protagonist is the Abruzzo National Park, Italy’s oldest national park along with the Gran Paradiso Park.
It is famous for the conservation of the wolf, chamois and Marsican bear, as well as for its expanses of forests and
beech trees, which cover about 2/3 of its surface area. To reach Anversa degli Abruzzi, exit the A25 highway at the Cocullo toll booth. If you decide to take this tour on May 1, it will be possible to attend
the famous festival in honor of “San Domenico dei serpari.” From Cocullo descend to the Sagittario gorges that take us to Lake Scanno passing through three of Italy’s most beautiful villages: Anversa degli Abruzzi, Villalago and Scanno. From Scanno continue toward Viletta Barrea, climbing by motorcycle to the plateau of Passo Godi.
Before Villalago, on the opposite shore of the Lake San Domenico road, it is possible to visit the hermitage of the same name. We continue to Villetta Barrea and arrive at Opi, the fourth of the most beautiful villages in Italy, and Pescasseroli, the center of the park. From Pescasseroli it is possible to return to Pescina and Cocullo. Once back in Anversa degli Abruzzi, it is easy to reach three more of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages: Bugnara, Introdacqua and Pettorano sul Gizio.
Check out this video from PlanetRiders.com which gives you 10 motorcycle routes for 10 weekends.
Hiking and itinerary info: www.abruzzoinmoto.com
