E1 in Abruzzo

Route

The Abruzzo section of the E1 Trail is an essentially easy trail suitable for all types of hikers, and does not show any particular difficulties. Each section never exceeds an altitude difference of 400 metres and only the last section reaches an altitude of 1400 m, but on average it is around 1000 m. It can be walked almost all year round, except in the coldest periods.  It passes through medieval villages, plains and the oldest forests in Europe.

The Abruzzo section is connected to the north with the 'E1 Lazio Nord' section in the locality of Cartore, an ancient medieval village, and continues for 7 stages and approximately 110 km, until it joins the 'E1 Lazio Sud' section in the locality of Camporotondo.

The town of Cartore, and its nearby Val di Teve, mark the entrance to the Velino-Sirente massif, the third most important massif in the region, which ends with the Gole di Celano, the site of stage 4.

The first part of the stretch then skirts the aforementioned massif from west to east, with maximum altitudes never reaching 1,200 metres, highlighting a rough and rugged terrain made up of rock and low vegetation essentially of junipers and oaks, and passes through Abruzzi villages with interesting historical and architectural cues, first and foremost, Rosciolo with its Romanesque church Santa Maria di Porclaneta and Celano with its Piccolomini Castle, as well as naturalistic cues of high value, such as the Gole di Celano, listed among the 10 most beautiful canyons in Italy.

The second part of the Abruzzo section, which is more hilly and less mountainous, descends to the valley, skirting the ancient bed of Lake Fucino, the third largest lake at the time, which was drained at the behest of the Roman Emperor Claudius first, with the construction of the homonymous[1]  tunnels, and then by the Torlonia family in 1878.  Continuing along the route, we climb up to about 1000 metres and reach Alba Fucens, an ancient fortified Roman city dating back to the 4th century BC and its Roman Amphitheatre, declared a national monument in 1902, adjacent to which is the Medieval Borgo di Albe not far away. Still in a hilly environment and with views of the Fucino Plain, we cross the Piani Palentini, the scene of the Battle of the same name between Charles of Anjou and Corradino of Swabia in 1268, to reach Tagliacozzo. From this village, which has been nominated several times as one of Italy's most beautiful villages, the route climbs to Camporotondo in a longer stage with the highest difference in altitude of the entire stretch.

The last section offers the hiker a beautiful natural landscape of some of the oldest tall forests in Europe.

Practical

Medical Problems (NOT Emergency):  phone    116 117

Emergency (any): phone 112

Accomodation and Food

Information can be obtained ai local Tourism offices:

• Proloco Magliano de' Marsi
  https://www.facebook.com/prolocomaglianodeimarsi/?locale=it_IT

• Pro Loco – Delle Forme
  phones: +39 0863510127 -  +39 3487924451

• Proloco Ovindoli
  https://www.facebook.com/people/Proloco-Ovindoli/100072225752642/

• Proloco Celano
  https://www.prolococelano.it/

• Proloco Tagliacozzo
  https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prolocotornimparte.it%2F&h=AT3X3zfbTEKxn9sn9jaTPjoFjQtFmV_B0QCDA6xDDVLLGMMq9iLi82XNDmGih6IIr9qDLEjIQ7j3SYwckwXPKTVJyCvVA9CzZFif8RlK623nL1O-OD5bBPBoXAJLJAbdIPixHoF9oEcTh6moQRJe7Q

• Proloco Alba Fucens
  https://it-it.facebook.com/RoccadiMezzoProLoco/posts/alba-fucens/1419441494748989/

• Proloco Camporotondo
  phone +39 351 511 7318
  proloco.camporotondoaq@hotmail.com 

Gear

The stages of the E1 Abruzzo trail are mainly in a medium-mountain environment and are very varied, ranging from Mediterranean scrub to limestone rock typical of the Apennine mountains, so a good workout and suitable clothing (modulated according to the season) are required. All the stage points coincide with a fairly inhabited village or town and therefore always offer the possibility of both water supply and overnight accommodation and refreshments, and the warm welcome of the local population is to be noted.  

Useful Links