Contact me by info@molisetrekking.com for a date
This trip is the perfect option for those who love both nature and history. It gives you the opportunity to enjoy pristine and awe-inspiring nature as well as to see the rich history and cultural life of the people that have lived in this area for generations.
Duration: 4 walking days, 5 nights, 6 days overall
Destination: from Isernia to Agnone
Trail Type: from hills to mountains
Features: itinerant; cultural and historical; experiential; natural; food and wine
Accommodation: albergo diffuso (restored house for tourism), guesthouses, hotel, 1800s cottage, and bed-and-breakfast
Where to eat: restaurants and 1800s cottage
Group size: 8-12 people. Extra charge for small group until to 4 people.
Difficulty: Medium
The trail contains easy easy sections and only a few uphill and downhill hikes. Elevation changes average 500 meters (1600 ft) per day, both uphill or downhill, except on the first day. This itinerary is suitable to all ability levels, however hiking experience is desirable. The trails do not pose major challenges. The journey is on foot and is itinerant. Short transfers are by motorized vehicle. The overnight stays are comfortable.
Length of itinerary: 65.5 km (40.7 mi)
Total elevation gain: +2640 m (+8661 ft)
Total elevation loss: -2195 m (-7201 ft)
Inspiring atmospheres in the medieval historical centers of Isernia, Pesche, Miranda, Pescolanciano, Carovilli, Pietrabbondante, and Agnone, with their examples of artistic beauty with palaces, churches, fountains, crossroads, gardens, and more.
La Riserva Naturale Orientata in Pesche and the one of Biosphere in Collemeluccio, protected by UNESCO. Luxeriant woods of Monte Totila, Monte Ferrante, and Selva di Castiglione, that belong to the Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the EU Natura2000 network. Great overviews on the mountains of Mainarde-Monti della Meta, Monti Marisicani, the high valley of Volturno river, alto Molise, and the hills of central Molise.
The ancient paths of transhumance: Regi Tratturi Pescasseroli-Candela, Castel di Sangro-Lucera, and Tratturello di San Domenico. They show architectural, religious, and cultural statements of shepherds tradition, among castles, churches, ‘pandette,’ grave signs and towers. The interesting d’Alessandro family’s castle of Pescolanciano. The magnificent atmosphere of Campane Marinelli – Pontifical Bells Foundry in Agnone, where bells have been forged for eight hundred years with the same medieval techniques.
Your journey will be enriched by the delicious traditional cuisine of Molise and its excellent drinks. Traditional products and dishes, often handmade and old-fashioned, brighten the evenings of walkers. You can taste cheeses such as caciocavallo, pecorino, burrata, and manteca and try cured meats like soppressata, ventricina, capicollo, and rolled up ventresca. You can eat local seasonal vegetables and legumes and can drink Moscato white wine and Tintilia red wine.
The archaeological site and the museum of “La Pineta” in Isernia. Here, 700,000 years ago, lived Homo erectus. The religious-political-cultural center of the ancient Sannio, with the large archaeological area of the Pietrabbondante theater-temple.
During our breaks we meet many local people. They tell stories and traditions of the rural and pastoral culture of Molise. Then, we will visit a craft brewery and meet a family that has a riding school.
Day 1
Arrival at Isernia and meeting with professional nature and interpretive guide.
Accommodation and explanation of the journey.
Visit of the historical center.
Dinner at a restaurant.
Night in ‘albergo diffuso’ (restored house for tourism), in twin rooms with private bathroom. If needed, in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
Day 2
After breakfast, we start the hike from Isernia to Miranda, visiting the village of Pesche.
Packed lunch.
Dinner at trattoria.
Night in different guesthouses, in twin rooms with shared bathroom.
From the historical center of Isernia we get to the archaeological site of the Paleolithic La Pineta and walk for a short while on what remains of the Regio Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela, heading into La Guardia and Pineta hills. Afterwards, we cross through the village of Pesche and enter the Pesche Riserva Naturale Orientata, until we reach the chapel of Santa Lucia and then go down to Miranda.
Technical information
Duration: 5 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 17 km (10.6 mi)
Total elevation gain: +900 m (+2952 ft)
Total elevation loss: -480 m (-1574 ft)
Difficulty: medium
Day 3
After breakfast, we start the hike from Miranda to Pescolanciano.
Packed lunch.
Dinner at restaurant.
Night in hotel, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Miranda we go up to Monte Pietrereie (1321 meters (4333 ft) above sea level) and Monte Totila (1359 meters (4458 ft) above sea level), and then descend, on a comfortable gravel road, towards the village of Pescolanciano. Before arriving, we come across the Regio Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. We see the amazing D’Alessandro castle in Pescalanciano. During the rest we also visit a local craft brewery.
Technical Information
Duration: 4.5 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 14.5 km (9 mi)
Total elevation gain: +530 m (+1738 ft)
Total elevation loss: -620 m (-2034 ft)
Difficulty: easy
Day 4
After breakfast, we start the hike from Pescolanciano to Colle Arso district (Carovilli).
Packed lunch.
Dinner in a 1800s cottage.
The night will be in the same structure, in multiple rooms with shared bathroom. There is the possibility to sleep in the nearby village, in a bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
Once we leave Pescolanciano, we will walk along Regio Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera, visiting what remains of the fiefdom of Santa Maria dei Vignali (medieval tower and defensive system of the Samnite era). Crossing Tratturello di San Domenico, we follow it up to the San Domenico church, then climb Monte Ferrante (1051 meters (3448 ft) above sea level) and visit other fortifications of the ancient Sannio. Descending from the beautiful mountain, we visit Carovilli and Castiglione di Carovilli, to then dive into the beautiful forest of Selva di Castiglione.
Technical Information
Duration: 5 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 17 km (10.6 mi)
Total elevation gain: +660 m (+2165 ft)
Total elevation loss: -550 m (-1804 ft)
Difficulty: moderate
Day 5
After breakfast, we start the hike from the Colle Arso district (Carovilli) to Pietrabbondante.
Packed lunch.
Transfer by motorized vehicle to Agnone.
Dinner at restaurant.
Night in different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
We descend into the high valley of the river Trigno and cross it. We visit the Riserva Naturale Orientata and Biosphere Reserve in Collemeluccio, protected by UNESCO. After walking a short piece of Regio Tratturo Celano-Foggia, we are able to admire the great archaeological area of the theater-temple of Pietrabbondante. After visitning the archaeological area of Pietrabbondante and the village, we transfer by minivan to Agnone.
Technical information
Duration: 5 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 17 km (10.6 mi)
Total elevation gain: +550 m (+1804 ft)
Total elevation loss: -544 m (-1784 ft)
Difficulty: easy
Day 6
Time to say goodbye and go back.
After breakfast, we visit Agnone and its Campane Marinelli – Pontifical Bells Foundry: considered to be the oldest foundry in the world, a spectacular artisan attraction.
Then, we transfer by motorized vehicle to the station of Isernia to get the train or bus.
For groups of 8 to 12 people. Extra charge for small group until to 4 people.
What’s included
What’s not included
Notice: This program may be to change, before and during the journey. Changes are based on the climate, the needs of travelers and the people that host the group of travelers.
