The featured image and the pictures of this post were kindly provided by @vasentiero – vasentiero.org.
In our latest posts we have emphasized the importance that sustainable tourism is gaining, and how Abruzzo, as the greenest region in Europe, offers endless alternatives to practice slow and ecological tourism that allows us to connect with others, ourselves and the region. In other words, Abruzzo offers us the possibility to do different and meaningful tourism.
The Sentiero Italia and the Va' Sentiero expedition
Recently, we have discovered that the longest trek in the world is in Italy, and is known as the “Sentiero Italia” (The Grand Italian Trail). This mountain trail, that goes from north to south, has a total extension of 7,000 kilometres.
On the other hand, and this is the most exciting part, “Va ‘Sentiero” is the expedition that currently explores the entire “Sentiero Italia” in detail, and it crosses all the regions of the country in a total of 368 stages, including 6 UNESCO natural heritage sites. This project is dedicated to Walter Bonatti, the famous Italian mountaineer, explorer and journalist.
More than a project “Va ‘Sentiero” “it’s a travel idea based on concepts of discovery, sharing and circularity”, they strongly believe “in the interaction with the territory and in people’s active engagement” and the aim is “to encourage slow tourism, stimulate the economy and environmental awareness of inland areas”.
Towards the peak of Corno Grande. Photo credit: @vasentiero - vansentiero.org
The “Va ‘Sentiero” project was born in 2016 when its founders Yuri, Sara and Giacomo, discovered the existence of the “Sentiero Italia”, and driven by their passion for mountains, they decided to create the “Va’ Sentiero” expedition (the craziest expedition, on the world’s longest mountain trail, in the most beautiful country). Officially, the expedition begins on the 1st of May of 2019, being the starting point a small town in the Gulf of Trieste (located at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea). The expedition is expected to be fully completed in 2021.
In addition to its founders, the “Va ‘Sentiero” expedition is made up of “7 adventurers, different from one another but complementary”, each with a specific role: Andrea (videomaker), Francesco (philosopher pantry steward), Martina (social media manager), Giovanni (all-around driver), Alberto (digital guru), Giulia (press manager) and Diego (sustainable graphic designer).
The sunset from the Castle of Rocca Calascio. Photo credit: @vasentiero - vansentiero.org
Va' Sentiero in Abruzzo
Since “Va’ Sentiero” is a project that aims to promote slow and sustainable tourism by stimulating local economies and producers, our splendid region could not be missing in this expedition! The Abruzzo – Lazio route (most of it is in Abruzzo, with some exceptions), covers a total of 320 kilometres distributed in 16 stages.
To shed more light on the difficulty of the trails, the classification of the stages will be as follows: Tourist (T), Hiker (E), Expert hikers (EE), Expert hikers with equipment (EEA). (Source: vansentiero.org).
The stages are:
Stage 188: San Martino – Padula. Extension: 23 km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 189: Padula – Campotosto. Extension: 20,8 km. Difficulty: EE.
Stage 190: Campotosto – Nerito. Extension: 15.2 km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 191: Nerito – Pietracamela. Extension: 20.9 km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 192: Pietracamela – Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzo. Extension: 12.9 km. Difficulty: EE.
Stage 193: Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzo – Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Extension: 18.9 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 194: Santo Stefano di Sessanio – Ofena. Extension: 12.9 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 195: Ofena – Popoli. Extension: 21.3 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 196: Popoli – Roccacaramanico. Extension: 28.9 Km. Diffilcuty: EE.
Stage 197: Roccacaramanico – Pacentro. Extension: 10 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 198: Pacentro – Rivisondoli. Extension: 30.1 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 199: Rivisondoli – Barrea. Extension: 22.2 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 200: Barrea – Pescasseroli. Extension: 22.6 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 201: Pescasseroli – Rifugio Duca d’Aosta. Extension: 11.8 Km. Difficulty: E.
Stage 202: Rifugio Duca d’Aosta – Picinisco. Extension: 26.5 Km. Difficulty: 955.
Stage 203: Picinisco – Bivacco Campitello. Extension: 17.6 Km. Difficulty: E.
These 16 stages include some of the most representative aspects of the region, ranging from medieval villages, natural landscapes and typical dishes, as well as some characteristic specimens of Abruzzo’s fauna.
Abruzzo is the third region of Italy with the largest number of villages belonging to the exclusive club of “The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”. In this particular route, you can admire 3 of the 24 Abruzzo villages that are part of this club: Pietracamela, Pacentro and Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Pietracamela belongs to the jurisdiction of the city of Teramo while Pacentro and Santo Stefano di Sessanio belong to the jurisdiction of the city of L’Aquila, the capital of the region. Each and one of these villages and its people reflects in its own way the beauty of Abruzzo and the main characteristics that define the region.
The path covered by these 320 kilometres, also includes some of the most splendid landscapes that Abruzzo can offer, the plateau of Campo Imperatore (also known as the Small Tibet) and the Gran Sasso, are undoubtedly among the most majestic and both, are considered symbols of Abruzzo. Stands out the summit of Monte Amaro (at an altitude of 2,793 meters above sea level), the highest point of the mother mountain, the Maiella.
A curious fact, towards Rivisondoli, it will be possible to observe an old train known as the Transiberiana d’Italia, considered the most panoramic railway in the country, due to the splendid landscapes that can be seen from the train. It is also known as the Little Trans-Siberian, due to the large amount of snow that can be found during the winter period, very similar to the Great Trans-Siberian that goes from Moscow to Vladivostok. The landscapes that can be admired in Abruzzo are infinite and wonderful!
On the very top of Abruzzo, the peak of Corno Grande. Photo credit: @vasentiero - vansentiero.org
Barrea, the Lake of Campotosto, the Castle of Rocca Calascio (among the 15 most beautiful castles in the world according to National Geographic), the Navelli plateau and its saffron (one of the most expensive and precious spices on the market, for which Abruzzo is also known “la terra dell’oro giallo”) and the Springs of the Pescara river, are other places and no less wonderful than those mentioned before, which can be admired during this journey.
For many, “the food” is one of the best ways to get to know a place. And when it comes to food, Abruzzo is a festival that you don’t want to miss! Depending on the stage you are in, you can taste the best that this region has to offer: the ferratelle, gambero di fiume, ventricina, cazzarielli and faggioli, tacconelle and much more.
Sustainability show us the way
Now more than ever it is important to have a positive social and environmental impact on everything we do and tourism is not an exception to this. Abruzzo offers us a wide range of options to practice meaningful tourism (the Emblematic and Nexum Equum Ippovia del Gran Sasso are just some of the projects), while we reduce our impact on the environment, support local economies and producers and at the same time, connect with others, ourselves and the region.
When it comes to slow and sustainable tourism, the “Va ‘Sentiero” expedition is a great alternative. And if you are adventurous enough, you have the opportunity to join the team (in the best Forrest Gump style!), and explore with them all the natural and humanistic wonders of the “Sentiero Italia”, always keeping an eye though, to that hidden gem, called . . .