What to do around Roccacasale


WHAT TO DO
WALKING	SKIING	MOUNTAIN BIKING	SWIMMING	HORSE RIDING	OTHER

		WALKING FROM ROCCACASALE
Always make sure you are properly prepared for walking. A pair of stout shoes or walking boots are strongly recommended and long trousers help protect from brambles etc. In the summer you will need a hat and of course never forget your bottle of water. You will find many public fountains in the area from which you can replenish your water bottle - the water is completely safe to drink.
	TO THE CASTLE This is short and quite steep walk, but well worth it for the views. From the house follow the signs for the castle passing the little shrine to San Antonio and a rather noisy dog safely enclosed in his garden. The gate in the castle wall is usually open. If just before you reach the castle you take the left-hand path down to the newly built terraces, you can look down on the village and enjoy panoramic views of the Peligna valley. For a longer walk turn right alongside a newly restored house and follow the well-signed R3 ‘sentiero’ (footpath) up to the ‘colle di fatte’, a series of ancient stone walls. No-one knows their origins and so legend has it they were built by the fairies.
TO ROCCACASALE’S CHAPEL This is a fairly flat walk taking about an hour. Go down the main street and turn left up by the little church opposite the large car park. Carry on past the houses and onto a wide track. You will come to a little village shrine on the left, recently redecorated by one of the local builders. Carry on past the first gorge on your right until you reach the second gorge. Take the right fork up over a little ridge. Follow the track through the olive grove which leads you to the right, back to the edge of the first gorge. Follow the path left, down the mountain and very soon you will come across Roccacasale’s little chapel which has a table with a cross in front of it. On Good Friday, pilgrims walk up from the cemetery below and bring offerings of food which traditionally they leave on the table for the poor. The chapel contains a few simple pews and an altar with a painting by Roccacasale’s eighteenth century artist, Domenico Gizzonio.
	TO THE COLLINE DI SAMBUCCHI This is a long, fairly demanding walk. Allow a few hours, probably two hours each way, wear sensible shoes and take a bottle of water and a picnic. In the summer it is advised to start early before it gets too hot. Take the steps down from the lower car park near the church and keep moving downwards until you reach the road. Turn right and at the point where the road turns sharp left, take the road up to the right. Once you have passed the houses you can follow this dirt road with its fourteen stations of the cross up to the mountain meadow. The views on the way are incredible and on a clear day you can apparently see Pescara and the sea from the top! In spring, the meadow flowers are just amazing. Every spring at the end of May the villagers celebrate the festival of their local Beato, (holy man) Mariano by holding a pilgrimage to the meadow.
WALKING IN THE LOCAL AREA
SORGENTE DI PESCARA The Pescara River bubbles out of the ground near Vittorito and a visit to its source makes a pleasant walk. It is then possible to climb the hill and enjoy views across the autostrada to Popoli.
	RAIANO At the top of the main street, beyond the railway line, opposite the restaurant, Lo Chalet, you can start an easy, flat walk to a newly developed picnic area amongst the trees. On the way you are treated to magnificent views of the San Venanzio hermitage which straddles the river. It is possible to make the longer walk to the hermitage itself. Back at the restaurant, cross the railway line with great care, and turn left by the wooden shrine of Jesus on the cross. The path goes through woodland and emerges near the tarmac road leading to the hermitage. Once inside the grounds it is possible to follow the beautiful riverside path. Do take a picnic with you. Should you need an ice cream after your exertions, the town centre of Raiano is a pleasant tree shaded walk away. There is a fascinating historical centre (centro storico), a large church and newly restored piazza.
THE HERMITAGE OF SAN ONOFRIO As you drive to Sulmona you will notice a small building, high up, clinging on to the mountainside. This is the chapel of San Onofrio and was built on the site of the cave where the holy man lived. It is a steep climb but you are rewarded with magnificent views of Sulmona. Drive to Badia Morrone and follow the road past the convent. There is a small car park and also a convenient café selling drinks and ice cream during the summer months. As you walk up the mountain you come to an open area with remains of buildings and wide stone steps. This is the site of an ancient temple to Hercules.
	The stones were plundered and used for later buildings but a small piece of mosaic floor remains. The pathway carries on up and eventually reaches the small chapel. It contains a small statue of San Onofrio who was made Pope Celestino in 1294, although he left the post soon afterwards and returned to his life as a hermit.
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		SKIING
SKIING AT ROCCARASO In less than forty minutes after leaving Roccacasale you can be on the slopes of one of the best ski resorts in central Italy. The super strada SS17 takes you from the foot of the mountain through the most breath taking scenery, via some of the most amazing elevated roads. Towards the end of your journey you pass through a tunnel and emerge into the Cinque Miglia Plain. This is a five-mile straight section of road which in the winter especially, is quite magical.
The first ski area you reach is at Monte Pratello, where you can take the cable car up to reach the extensive and well serviced ski runs. The other centres are accessed by driving on through the town of Roccaraso. The Gravara centre provides ski hire and ideal beginner slopes as well as access to all other areas. The ski school is excellent with very patient instructors who generally have a little English. Take a passport photo with you for your ski pass.
It is best to buy a non-consecutive pass so that you do not waste money if skiing is not possible one day. If you are ‘in pensione’ you can get a reduction so take proof of age with you. Safety is taken very seriously and under 14s must wear a helmet. When hiring skis you will be asked your weight in kilos so that your bindings can be adjusted correctly. Don’t worry if you don’t know. They will guess! They will also want a driving licence as security for the equipment. There are plenty of excellent bars and restaurants on the slopes and if you are not an avid skier you can take a book and enjoy a cappuccino or two in the sunshine. Go to www.roccaraso.net for more information. Our Scottish friend, Mac, who lives in the village, offers a ski-guiding service. Contact him at marjmack@mackenzie10.co.uk

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MOUNTAIN BIKING and CANOEING at IL BOSSO
		The Tirino River is claimed to be the cleanest river in Europe. The environmental education centre, called, Il Bosso, situated in Bussi sul Tirino is where you can start your exploration of the river. There are two riverside tracks to choose from, both of which are very long so it is probably best to hire a bike from the centre. There are several picnic areas along the route but there is no need to take liquid refreshment as the river is a completely pure source of water, cleaned by the wild celery growing in it. We spent a wonderful couple of hours on the river in canoes. The centre guides, one in each of our canoes, took us to within two hundred metres of the river’s source. On a hot summer’s day it was a truly ‘cool’ experience! Returning to San Martino where we had parked our car, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the restaurant near the swimming pool. This was one of the best days of our holiday. The centre also organises walking excursions in various locations within the nearby national parks. They even have a special wolf weekend when you can learn about the wolf and then put your skills to the test on a night time trek, Overnight accommodation is in a mountain refuge! The centre is open from June to September and you need to book in advance. Go to www.ilbosso.com for more information.
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		SWIMMING
The amazing Adriatic beaches are just a forty minutes’ drive away. Pescara itself is very busy and we find the road layout very confusing so it is probably best to take the A25 and then the A14 north to Silvi Marina. You can cruise along the coast road in either direction and take your pick of the cafes and beaches. Each section of beach is privately owned and you must pay to hire your umbrella and deckchairs. Then you can enjoy the sea and sand followed by drinks and food at the bar. There is an amazing array of wonderful restaurants to choose from, all specialising in fish dishes.
There are several places where you can swim without going to the beach. Towards nearby Corfinio, there is the Acqua Garden which opens in the summer months only. You can spend a pleasant few hours or a whole day there. There are sun beds by the poolside as well as a café and pizzeria. The law in Italy demands that all swimmers wear swim hats so be prepared or you can buy one there. The pool at Camping San Martino can be found by taking the N153 road to Capestrano and 6 km past Bussi look for a turning on the right. There is an outside pool with restaurant. There are also public swimming baths in Sulmona.
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		HORSE RIDING
There is a stables in Vittorito where you can have lessons and then hire the horses for a ride in the countryside. We have not tried but our friends with their two children make this a regular outing when they come.
		OTHER ACTIVITIES
IGIOLAND Near the Acqua Garden is a multiscreen cinema complex. Good if you want to improve your Italian. We have not investigated it yet but it does show the latest releases. TENPIN BOWLING Just before you reach Raiano the bowling is on your left in the business park. We have not been here yet. GO CARTING There is a go-karting track in Badia which is open everyday, all year round. Best to go during the week as races are held at weekends. Back to Top