Step 11.

Villavallelonga – Pescasseroli

……………………………….. – Park of Abruzzi, Latium and Molise

Watercolour by Giampiero Pierini

With this step you enter into the inner territory of the National Park of Abruzzi, Latium and Molise. We leave the beautiful village of Villavallelonga, where the headquarters of the salvage area of Park’s Bears and the Bear Museum are located, and we continue to go up the wide Valley Longa on a rather gentle path that, after a summit, descends again on the concrete road, beyond the little church of Madonna della Lanna.

Continuing on a gentle slope you pass two large water troughs on the right, and, abandoning a path, again on the right, you will continue on the main asphalt road until you will look out over the beautiful Prati d’Angro. The path goes on further, but it is important to notice that some of the beech forests of these mountain slopes, like the ones of Val Cervara, hosting some of the oldest trees in Europe, have been defined Faggete Vetuste (that means “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests”) and have become UNESCO World Heritage in 2017.

Crossing the wide meadow, the gradual climb turns more intense to reach the Pass of Schiena d’Asino. From there the view extends over the wide valley of Val di Sangro, heart of the Park and place hosting the main village, Pescasseroli.

To reach it, there will be a long descent –  in the upper part steeper and more demanding – and then gradually the descent will become  gentler and less steep.