On A25 motorway take the exit for Pescina, about 80 km away from Pescara, and head to the village. Here you can visit the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, dating back to the 16th century, and Ignazio Silone’s birthplace, located in the highest part of the hamlet, as well as walk along “Sentiero Silone”, a path based on the works of the writer from Pescina, as its name suggests (information available at the local Cai, the Italian Alpine Club). After that, follow the charming and little used Provincial Road 17, which skirts around several traditional villages and crosses the Giovenco Valley.
The first hamlet is Ortona dei Marsi, with its medieval tower dating back to the first half of the 13th century. The village is rich in prestigious military architecture and religious monuments, such as the remarkable Collegiate Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Giugno Fountain. The provincial road climbs up through seemingly unspoilt land and arrives at Aschi Alto, a village located in the municipality of Ortona on the top of Mount Civitella, at an altitude of 1,139 m and with a unique view over the Giovenco Valley.
It is one of the most favourite destinations for mountain-biking enthusiasts, since it features a path which leads, after passing the Davina spring at the Sperone tower, to the abandoned hamlet of Sperone Vecchio. The typical products of the Giovenco Valley include honey, mountain potatoes, beans and chickpeas. You can then visit Bisegna, situated at 1,210 m above sea level, it lays in a strategic position for the observation and control of the valley. The urban centre was built between the 11th and the 12th century. The patron saint’s festivities and the fair of San Sebastiano usually take place in the third week of August. Provincial Road 17 continues to rise until it crosses SS83 Marsicana which reaches, if you turn left, Pescasseroli, the heart of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise.
The renowned tourist destination of Pescasseroli offers its visitors a wide choice of options: hiking, cycling, culture and leisure. In the nearby area, you can find the famous Fondillo Valley, ideal for long or short excursions, and the Camosciara, a wonderful natural site, where guided excursions are available, even during the night (see the website). This year, the five 600-year-old beech forests, covering an area of 937 hectares among the municipalities of Lecce nei Marsi (Moricento), Opi (Fondillo Valley and Iancino Valley), Pescasseroli (Coppo del Principe and Coppo del Morto) and Villavallelonga (Cervara Valley), have been designated as a World Heritage Site: this is the first Unesco recognition in the whole Abruzzo region. In Pescasseroli, don’t miss the chance to visit the Naturalistic and Ethnographic Museum located inside the Visitor Centre. The trattorias of the Park, as well as the bakeries with their traditional sweets, are of course excellent. The nearby village of Opi is a little jewel, set atop a mountain which dominates the Park. Regional Road 509 starting from there leads to Forca d’Acero, a gorgeous pass connecting Abruzzo to Lazio and affording great views ranging as far as the Tyrrhenian Sea.
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