Tipically naturalistic trekking, but not only, where La Montagnola Molisana offers a heterogeneous and fascinanting show. The valleys and ridges alternate between wide pastures, rock formations, small and large lakes, large woods with specimens of ancient beech trees and many karst phenomenons. Even today it is possible to find herds of cattle and horses in the wild, which freely graze between the pens and the many small pools of water, as well as wild animals of all kinds.
Day 1
Arrival at Isernia and meeting with Professional Nature and Interpretive Guide.
Accommodation and explanation of the journey.
Dinner at restaurant.
Night in ‘albergo diffuso’ (restored house for tourism), in twin rooms with private bathroom. After exhaustion of rooms in ‘albergo diffuso’, in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
Day 2
After the breakfast, private transfer by motorized vehicle to Carpinone, where we’ll start a hike until to Macchiagodena.
Packed lunch.
Dinner in farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From the village of Carpinone, dominated by Caldora’s castle, we’ll descend into the fascinating ravine of the Carpino river, where we’ll be able to admire rock formations and waterfalls. Leaving the village, we’ll take a nice path in the woods and, later, we’ll go towards the village of Castelpetroso and up to the mountains Colle Pezzo della Stella (1148 m a.s.l.) and Colle della Macchia (1165 m a.s.l.), from where one can observe the human work on territory: agricultural land terracing and heaps of stones where shepherds used to take over. Then, we’ll cross the valley of Vallefredda and we’ll descend towards the village of Macchiagodena, where we’ll be able to admire the castle and the historical centre. In sum, we’ll walk until the farmhouse.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 22 km.
Difference in height (up): +1290 m.
Difference in height (down): -1160 m.
Difficulty: challenging.
Day 3
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Macchiagodena to Frosolone.
Packed lunch.
Dinner in trattoria.
Night in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom. After exhaustion of rooms in bed-and-breakfast, in ‘albergo diffuso’ (restored house for tourism), in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From the farmhouse we’ll reach a nice mule track, which climbs almost to Colle Monaciello (1286 meters above sea level). As we ascend, the panorama of the Apennine massif of Matese, the village of Macchiagodena and the underlying plain of Bojano acquires value and breadth. Along the way we’ll be able to see the small church of Santa Maria Palestina and some pastoral artifacts in dry-stone. At the highest altitudes, on continuous ups and downs between gentle peaks, accentuated valleys covered by reforestation, small rocky walls, numerous wind turbines, a beautiful and large fountain, we’ll arrive at the Vallefredda pastoral refuge. Leaving the massive building behind, we’ll climb up to the Acqua Spruzza locality, walk near the Pesco la Messa lake, climb near the rock formations of Monte Pesco La Messa (1383 meters above sea level) and arrive at the small chapel of the Addolorata, located on Colle Confalone (1348 meters above sea level). From here, on an evident track and then on a paved road, we’ll go down to the village of Frosolone.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 4.5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 12 km.
Difference in height (up): +700 metri.
Difference in height (down): -640 metri.
Difficulty: medium.
Day 4
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Frosolone to Acquevive.
Packed lunch.
Dinner in farmhouse.
Night in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Frosolone we’ll go up towards the hermitage of Sant’Egidio and then to the Cannavine lake and the Grisciata wood, up to Monte Marchetta (1376 meters above sea level), from which you can admire the hills of central Molise. Crossing the Acquaspruzza wind farm and the Piano Santa Maria, it is now the turn of the view over western Molise. With a short descent we’ll reach the Lake Carpinone and then go up to Mount Colle dell’Orso (1393 meters above sea level). From here we go towards the Castrati lake and back to the eighteenth-century hermitage. Afterwards, we will visit the “museum house” of the shepherd Pasquale Paolucci, pass by the large Sant’Onofrio fountain and come to skirt the long rocky wall of the Morgia Quadra. After passing the suggestive rocky wall on a somewhat challenging path, we’ll arrive on an easy dirt road to Acquevive hamlet. There are many animals in the wild that can be encountered in this stage.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6.5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 20 km.
Difference in height (up): +630 m.
Difference in height (down): -685 m.
Difficulty: challenging.
Day 5
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Acquevive to Civitanova del Sannio.
Packed lunch.
Dinner in restaurant.
Night in different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Acquevive we’ll go up an old path, passing close the drinking trough of Fonte Calcare. At the end of the track, the climb continues through meadows and bushes until we’ll reach a wide track first dirt and then with rubble, just above a big barn. In a context of meadows, rocks, peaks and views, you descend on a wide track to the Lake Castrati and from here you walk close to the Morgie Molise. Once we’ll reach the source of the Frati, we’ll start walking in a wonderful and luxuriant beech forest towards the suggestive plateau that hosts the lake of Civitanova. Then, we’ll go up to the highest peak of La Montagnola Molisana, La Montagnola (1421 meters above sea level), and then descend, through meadows, beech woods, canyons and panoramic “balconies” over the entire alto Molise, up to the Regio Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera and the underlying village of Civitanova del Sannio.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 7.5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 24 km.
Difference in height (up): +1300 m.
Difference in height (down): -1450 m.
Difficulty: challenging.
Day 6
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Civitanova del Sannio to Sessano del Molise.
Packed lunch.
After the hike, private transfer by motorized vehicle to Isernia for the rest.
Dinner in restaurant.
Night in ‘albergo diffuso’ (restored house for tourism), in twin rooms with private bathroom. After exhaustion of rooms in ‘albergo diffuso’, in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Civitanova del Sannio we’ll retrace the initial stretch of the “Frassati” path, walking on the Regio Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. At a small pass we’ll turn off to climb the Civita hill and get to know what remains of a Samnite military fortress (4th-3rd century BC). Where we’ll leave the Regio Tratturo it is also possible to admire a stone term relating to the path of transhumance. Returning to the Club Alpino Italiano path, we’ll continue on a stretch of paved road, and then move away from it to meet four tholoi. Returning to the “Frassati” path, the last daily stretch is on a beautiful and wide track. Leaving the path dedicated to the religious, we’ll immerse ourself in a beautiful beech forest, where the path climbs sweet and wide, among some erratic boulders and remarkable trees. Shortly before leaving the wood, we visit the walls of another Samnite fortification (4th-3rd century BC), in Colle le Case. Afterwards, we’ll pass close the small mountain refuge Valle Banca and then we’ll reach the plateau of the Guado dei Monti, downstream of Lake Civitanova. From here, along the country road, we’ll go down to the village of Sessano del Molise.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 5.5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 19 km.
Difference in height (up): +1240 m.
Difference in height (down): -1090 m.
Difficulty: medio.
Giorno 7
Time to say goodbye and go back. After breakfast, we’ll visit Isernia and the important archaeological area of the Paleolithic “La Pineta” , dating back 700,000 years.
Afterwards, transfer to the railway or bus station.
