The short run downhill, the feet coming off the ground and thethrill of feeling suspended between heaven and earth. In solemn silence, carried by the wind and propelled by that bit of recklessness to experience the thrill of free flight. Paragliding, the evolution of the flyable parachute, is the easiest and lightest way to fly, it is the chance to admire breathtaking views, it is the opportunity to live a dream.
Practicing free flight guided only by the currents is a whirlwind of emotions, it is cold blood, it is feeling the wind in your face, it is adrenaline, it is madness, it is nature, it is passion. A passion that has about ten thousand practitioners in Italy. There is no age limit to experience at least once in your life the thrill of flying. Everyone can practice this sport from 6 to 100 years old, from 30 to 130 pounds, and Italy, thanks to its vastness of territory, offers more than 600 points from which to take off.
In Latium, a popular destination is Norma, in the province of Latina, in the Lepini Mountains, where from a height of about 430 meters above sea level, you can admire the ruins of the ancient city. From this flight zone you can also enjoy views of the Gardens of Ninfa and still admire the colorful sunsets of Circeo.
In Abruzzo it is possible to fly over the most beautiful maritime area of the region, characterized by the marvelous trabocchi, but also over the most fascinating castle of the hinterland, Rocca Calascio: while in the air it is possible to fly over the castle to admire it in all its beauty, passing also over the plain of Ofena with its characteristic villages that will make the experience extraordinary, both for the altitude of the flight(1600 meters) but above all for the naturalistic landscape that can be observed, with the Maiella mountain range as a backdrop. Another takeoff point is in the heart of Majella Park, on the western slope of Mount Marrone at an altitude of 630 meters in the municipality of Tocco da Casauria in the province of Pescara. Here you can fly from March to August taking advantage of the sea breeze that arrives in this area in the early afternoon. And Ancora Colle delle Vacche in Sulmona with a takeoff area at an altitude of about 1100 meters that, thanks to its western exposure, makes it possible to fly over the entire Peligna valley.
Flying over mountainous environments such as these requires experience and great knowledge of technique, but thanks to the vastness of the terrain, you will be able to admire breathtaking views and enjoy the sight of local wildlife, such as chamois, wolves and other wonders that this land is home to. The particular conformation of the land, with a vast plain placed at an altitude of about 400 meters and protected from the region’s prevailing winds, allows free-flying enthusiasts to practice this discipline most days of the year. However, the recommended period for flying is from late September to March.
There are many flying schools in the area that, in addition to basic and advanced courses, offer the possibility of tourist tandem flights; thanks to tandem paragliding, in fact, one can fly accompanied by experienced instructors and thus have the opportunity to learn about this discipline or simply live a different experience for a day.
Ready to take off to a new adventure? Once you have learned to fly, you will walk the earth looking at the sky because that is where you have been and that is where you will want to return (Leonardo Da Vinci)
