Trekking in Abruzzo is a great alternative to lying on the beach and the opportunity to see Italy from a different side, i.e.,  nature. If it were up to me to send tourists to Italy, Abruzzo would be a must-see. Or maybe not, because then it would be full of people and trampled. And unfortunately, it seems that it’s slowly becoming that way.

Nevertheless, there are still places where meeting a living soul, especially out of season, can be an attraction, which is why trekking in Abruzzo is great for people who want to spend some active time in the bosom of nature.

Trekking in Abruzzo – why it is worth visiting this region.

First of all, it is an absolutely beautiful part of Italy. Actually, it’s Italy in a nutshell: charming towns, beautiful mountains and the sea. The Apennines are not as high as the Alps, of course, but they’re still beautiful: in places covered with grass, and colorfully blooming plants, and in places rocky. Just like mountains should be in my opinion. Besides, Abruzzo is one of the most mountainous regions of Italy. It ‘s also home to the Campo Imperatore plateau, known as ‘Little Tibet’.

Trekking in Abruzzo is great because of its diversity; the region offers thousands of picturesque trails for more or less experienced hikers. Hiking the not-so-high Apennines is a great alternative if you don’t want to spend your holiday in Italy the way 99% of tourists do. Trekking in Abruzzo means wild nature, strange plants, beautiful views, people, fresh air, the possibility of meeting sheep or maybe a bear…

Where to stop to see the Orta River.

I’ve done trekking in Abruzzo a dozen or so times; this time we stopped in Musellaro, a small, sleepy town with a few houses and one bar. You can have a coffee and a croissant there, but you won’t be able to do any major shopping. Fortunately, it’s easy to get to nearby towns like Bolognano, Torre De’ Passeri, or Caramico Terme, where you can drop by a market or restaurant.

One thing that is annoying about Abruzzo is the poor internet. GPS tends to freeze up and make mountain driving difficult. Or funny, depending on how you look at it. We found ourselves driving in circles a few times trying to find our way. Luckily, you can always count on the locals. If you meet any.

Trekking in Abruzzo – How to get to Orta and Cascata Bolognano.

The Orta River (Cisterna del Fiume Orta) and Cascata (waterfall) Bolognano is a short, ‘moderately’ populated trail, nice if you want to climb but not overexert yourself.

The trail starts in the centre of Bolognano from a small square opposite the church of St. Antonio Abate. The road leads down to the via Fonte Orcina and then to a trampled road. After about 100m on a track, the trail turns left and then down. After about 3-4 km, you will reach the picturesque Orta River. On the way, you can turn to the panoramic point from which you can see the river and the waterfall, but this part of the path was closed. Someone was taking a selfie that turned out to be fatal, so Punto Panoramico was inaccessible. I don’t know if it is open yet, but I’m guessing it’s not.

Very often doing trekking in Abruzzo, you go trough forests; it’s also the case of this route. The forest  means a walk in the shade, which I welcomed with joy, as we were there in the summer and the day was hot. The euphoria was short-lived; it is hot and humid in the forest.

Covered in sweat and terribly wet air, I was simply dreaming of a bath in cold mountain water. Unfortunately or fortunately, Orta is home to microscopic creatures and unique plants of various sizes, so bathing/wading in the river is forbidden to protect these inhabitants from being taken off by people splashing around in the water.

And I agree with that, because this tendency that everything is for everyone is annoying. There is nothing more stupid than climbing anywhere you can just to climb, or doing anything, just for the idea of ​​it being so cool. So, even though the water was gurgling temptingly, I spared the inhabitants of the river from being trampled.

Orta is a charming river surrounded by forest and mountains. We walked a few dozen meters on the stones lying on the bank and decided to go back to the town, because there is no path along the river. Climbing the road uphill was a thankless task: some sections of the path were surprisingly slippery + a ton of sweat pouring down my face. Despite this, this short trek in Abruzzo was a nice warm-up before the route in Majella Park.

Practical information.

• It takes 1-1.3h to get to the river and back.
• The route is generally very easy, but it is a good idea to wear hiking shoes or something comfortable with a perforated sole.
• On a hot day, it’s worth taking plenty of water with you, as the only fountain is at the beginning on the route 
• Trekking boots and water are always useful if you are going trekking in Abruzzo