Passo dopo passo nel cuore dell’Appennino: la magia del Cammino del Gran Sasso

Simonetta Sandri · 20 October 2026

Ci sono luoghi dove la terra sembra parlare a voce alta e la montagna non è soltanto un paesaggio, ma una presenza viva. Il Cammino del Gran Sasso è una di queste rarità: un itinerario ad anello che abbraccia l’imponente "Sua Maestà" il Gran Sasso d’Italia, conducendo il camminatore attraverso altopiani sconfinati, borghi medievali arrampicati sulla roccia e antiche tradizioni pastorali

A circular trail starting from Fonte Cerreto, at the base of the Gran Sasso cable car in the municipality of L'Aquila, which unfolds across the following stages:

• Stage 1: From the top cable car station at Campo Imperatore to Castel del Monte, crossing the Campo Imperatore plain and the evocative Scoppaturo Canyon, a natural set for numerous films;
• Stage 2: From Castel del Monte to Rocca Calascio, crossing the San Marco Plateau and passing over Colle della Battaglia;
• Stage 3: From Rocca Calascio to Santo Stefano di Sessanio;
• Stage 4: From Santo Stefano di Sessanio to Barisciano;
• Stage 5: The final stage returns from Barisciano to Fonte Cerreto along the slopes of Mount Ruzza, the Montecristo refuge, and the Valle Fredda ridge.

A Journey Through Rock, Silence, and Infinite Horizons

Walking this trail means immersing yourself in a breathtaking variety of landscapes. From the boundless pastures of Campo Imperatore—aptly named the "Little Apennine Tibet" by Fosco Maraini and the filming location for movies such as The Desert of the Tartars and The Name of the Rose—to the shady, wooded gorges hiding crystal-clear streams, every single day offers a brand-new backdrop.

It is not just a physical challenge, but a unique, almost meditative experience:

• The silence of vast open spaces: Hearing only the sound of your own footsteps along high-altitude paths.
• Enchanted villages: Places of timeless charm such as Santo Stefano di Sessanio, with its white stone architecture, and Rocca Calascio, whose fortress dominates the valley with the majesty of a natural film set.
• Authentic flavors: The warm hospitality of Abruzzo at the end of each stage, featuring arrosticini (mutton skewers), aged sheep's milk cheeses, and a glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

Technical and Logistical Data Sheet

For those planning to hit the trail, here are the main stats and details of the itinerary:

• Total distance: ~61 km (loop trail)
• Start / Finish: Fonte Cerreto / Campo Imperatore (AQ)
• Cumulative elevation gain/loss: ~2,300 m D+ / D-
• Difficulty: E (Hiking / Intermediate) – Requires a fair level of fitness
• Recommended period: Late spring to late autumn (May – October)

The 5 Official Stages

The classic itinerary allows you to enjoy the mountains without rushing, leaving plenty of time to visit the villages:

1. Campo Imperatore ➔ Castel del Monte: ~22 km (+350 m / -1,150 m) | Crossing the vast plateau
2. Castel del Monte ➔ Rocca Calascio: ~9 km (+450 m / -380 m) | Ascent to the famous medieval fortress
3. Rocca Calascio ➔ Santo Stefano di Sessanio: ~5 km (+180 m / -320 m) | Short and scenic stage between villages
4. Santo Stefano di Sessanio ➔ Barisciano: ~8 km (+550 m / -795 m) | Descending toward the gates of the Park
5. Barisciano ➔ Fonte Cerreto: ~17 km (+770 m / -630 m) | Return to the foot of the massif

Practical Tips Before You Leave

• Water and supplies: Some high-altitude sections (especially across Campo Imperatore) have no water points; carrying an adequate supply (at least 2 liters) is essential.
• Clothing: Since the route ranges between 900 and 2,100 meters above sea level, mountain weather can change rapidly. Layered clothing, a waterproof hardshell jacket, and hiking boots are essential.
• Accommodation and Credential: B&Bs, mountain huts, and hostels are available in the stage villages. You can request the Credenziale del Cammino (Pilgrim's Credential) to collect stamps along the route.

Fascinating Curiosities

Campo Imperatore

• Pastures and blooms: At nearly 1,800 meters, the vast grassland is a triumph of biodiversity featuring wild orchids, edelweiss, genepì, mountain violets, and the rare crocus (which blooms through the last winter snow in patches of purple, lilac, and white).
• Glacial lakes and the "Mirror of Abruzzo": The plain holds several small glacial water bodies. The most famous is Lake Pietranzoni (1,660 m), known as the "Mirror of the Gran Sasso", renowned for the reflection of the mountain peaks on its icy waters.
• Breathtaking panoramas: From Vado di Corno (1,924 m), the view takes in both the L'Aquila and Teramo sides of the range, the majestic wall of Corno Grande (2,912 m), and, on clear days, even the Adriatic Sea.
• The "Vincenzo Rivera" Botanical Garden (2,117 m): Founded in the 1950s through the vision of botanist Vincenzo Rivera and now managed by the University of L'Aquila, it is an open-air laboratory designed to protect and study the rare high-altitude flora of the Central Apennines.
• Italy's highest church and the skiing Pope: Standing next to the historic hotel is the consecrated church of "La Madonna della Neve", the highest in Italy and among the highest in Europe. It was consecrated in 1993 by Pope John Paul II, who loved to ski incognito on these mountains to find silence and meditation.
• The canyon and western cinema: Along the trail, you will encounter the ruins of the Church of Sant’Egidio and enter the Scoppaturo Canyon, a natural movie set where the 1976 spaghetti western Keoma starring Franco Nero was filmed.
• The village of shepherds and "witches": At 1,346 meters, this medieval village (listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy) welcomes visitors with its characteristic tower-houses, transhumance traditions, and ancient legends of "witches."
• The food experience (The butcher-grill shops): This is a true mecca for "Gutesser" (travelers seeking ethical, convivial good eating). At local butcher-grills, you can buy cured meats, high-altitude cheeses, and short-supply-chain arrosticini. These spots provide benches, tables, and ready-to-use charcoal grills, offering an authentic outdoor feast.

Castel del Monte

• Open-air art: In the historic center, the walls of disused houses and cellars have been transformed into open-air art galleries curated by the Academy of Fine Arts of L'Aquila.
• Church of Madonna del Suffragio (or "of the Shepherds"): Seat of the Confraternity of the Souls of Suffrage since 1685, this church used to mark the rhythm of shepherds' lives.
• Gastronomy and craft: Famous for meats and cold cuts, notable specialties include Canestrato di Castel del Monte (a Slow Food Presidium cheese) and Marcetto (a spicy fermented cheese spread). Many local goods are also handcrafted from soft local wool.

Rocca Calascio

• The Fortress of Rocca Calascio: Perched at around 1,460 meters with views over the Tirino Valley and the Navelli Plain, it was named by National Geographic as "one of the most beautiful fortresses in the world."
• The Hollywood of Abruzzo: The area between Rocca Calascio and Santo Stefano di Sessanio is famous for hosting major film productions, including Ladyhawke, The Name of the Rose, The Bride's Journey, Padre Pio, and The Horizon of Events.
• The transhumance Church of Santa Maria della Pietà: A small octagonal temple with an eight-section dome, located at roughly 1,500 m along the path to Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Built in 1596 over an ancient votive shrine, it stands on the exact spot where locals successfully fought off a band of raiding brigands. Inside, it houses a depiction of a miraculous Virgin Mary and a sculpture of Saint Michael in armor.

Santo Stefano di Sessanio

• Florentine architecture in the mountains: The historic center features Renaissance additions in Tuscan style—a legacy of the former rule of the Piccolomini and Medici families (particularly under Francesco I de' Medici).
• The Albergo Diffuso model: Having suffered severe depopulation (dropping from 1,400 to barely 100 inhabitants), the village was reborn thanks to entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren. The restoration was strictly conservative and sustainable: no reinforced concrete, timber roofs reinforced with tie-rods, and guest units furnished with period antiques and traditional textiles.
• Artisanal traditions: During the Medici era, the village was famous for trading a specific raw black wool called "carfagna", which was processed in Florence. Today, young entrepreneurs (such as Valeria Gallese) have revived the processing of this precious wool to create 100% natural, eco-sustainable products.
• "Poor man's meat": The famous local lentils—a small, flavorful legume that is now a Slow Food Presidium—were historically considered the staple food of the local population.
• Festival and traditional dishes: The historic Lentil Festival (Sagra delle Lenticchie) takes place on the first Sunday of September. Traditional dishes include warm Abruzzese soups and traditional pasta types like "sagne a pezze" (or "tacconelle").

Barisciano

• Roman heritage: Founded between the 6th and 8th centuries following the abandonment of the nearby Roman cities of Furfo and Peltuinum.
• The realm of shepherds: The town's history is deeply intertwined with wealthy livestock-owning families and the transhumance seasonal migration. Beyond livestock grazing, the surrounding area produced saffron, potatoes, wheat, almonds, and lentils.
• Mountain-top ruins: Overlooking the village are the ruins of an ancient fortified wall situated high on the mountain.
• The "Locce": In the Plain of the Locce, you can find numerous shelters carved directly into the rock, historically used as field bases by farmers and shepherds.
• 14th-century frescoes: The Church of Buon Consiglio (or Capo di Serra) dates back to the 1300s and features frescoes linked to the renowned pictorial cycles of Bominaco and Fossa. Historically, it also served as a hospital and hospice.
• The Convent and Botanical Garden: The former Franciscan Convent of San Colombo (16th century) is now a historic residence surrounded by a centuries-old oak forest. It houses the Apennine Floristic Research Center along with a Botanical Garden.
• The solitary chapel: Along the route toward Fonte Cerreto stands the solitary, evocative Chapel of Sant’Eusanio at an altitude of 1,402 meters.
• The frozen lake: In the Piano di Fugno plain, rainwater creates Lake Filetto, a basin that remains almost completely frozen throughout the winter.
• Mountain watering troughs: At Fonte Vedice, a small mountain pond has historically served as a watering hole for grazing animals.

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Featuted photo by Maria Laura Catalogna, Pexels

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