Driving down A25 motorway, take the exit for Popoli and drive towards the Regional Nature Reserve “Sorgenti del Fiume Pescara”. This Reserve is a remarkably rich oasis that changes depending on the season. The various monumental trees of the Sorgenti are geolocalized on their website. You can walk along the paths of the reserve and discover the luxuriant vegetation and several other natural assets. Once your walk has ended and you have visited the small squares and the Ducal Castle of the village of Popoli, keep driving on State Road Tiburtina Valeria, the S.S.5 (a Roman road that connects Pescara to Rome) towards Pescara and discover Tocco da Casauria and Torre de’ Passeri, from the Latin “Turris Passum” (Tower of the step), which is a tower in close proximity to the Abbey of San Clemente a Casauria. It can be considered a true “in situ” museum because of the artefacts kept as in a treasure chest in the evocative inside. You could also book a guided tour. In these areas of the Pescara province you can taste many typical dishes like “Baccalà ‘mbriache” (salt cod cooked in white wine) or many dishes with saffron like mussels.
If the summer heat is getting to you, you can take Regional Road 487 towards Caramanico and stop in Roccamorice to visit the village and the “Eremo di Santo Spirito alla Majella”, one of the most suggestive hermitages, carved in the rock of the mountain.
Take again the road to Caramanico, which is located between the mouth of the magnificent Orfento canyon and the Orta Valley, and it is also the location of the iconic thermal baths of Abruzzo. Besides the thermal baths, the historical town centre is worthy of a visit and Caramanico offers appealing surroundings for both long and short excursions (info on-site or on the website). Exit Caramanico and head to Sant’Eufemia via a scenic road (11 km) that passes through the hamlet of San Nicolao (where you can find excellent sheep cheese). Sant’Eufemia is known especially for the exceptional quality of bread and the dairy products that you can buy in the two dairies. Moreover, you can take advantage of a well-equipped green area for a picnic. From Sant’Eufemia keep driving along the State Road until the crossroad for Roccacaramanico (1080 meters above sea level), a suggestive hamlet nested on a foothill of Mount Morrone. You will find yourself in a very windy valley between Mount Morrone and the Majella with a breathtaking view of the sea.
You can visit the tiny village where you can also find a place to sleep. Once you have taken the State Road again, a couple of kilometres ahead turn left to “Lama Bianca” where a comfortable paved road goes through the Reserve to the square of Rava del Ferro. You will arrive at last at Passo San Leonardo. Once you have crossed it, a road with steep hairpin bends descends to Pacentro. From there, head to the Conca Peligna if the road is accessible. If the road is still inaccessible you can keep driving uphill towards Campo di Giove and you will finally be able to enjoy the startling scenery between the Majella and Pescocostanzo.
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