Next departure: 18 June 2023
This tour gives the chance to find out the most important mountain range of Samnite Appenine, rich in history, art and villages. Nature you will be run across here is superb, among marvelous woods, deep caves, breathtaking views, interesting rocky environments, Apennine peaks to reach, deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers and evocative canyons.
Duration: 5 days walk, 6 nights, 7 days overall.
Destination: from Piano dell’Olmo district (Sepino) to Basilica Minore dell’Addolorata (Castelpetroso).
Typology: medium level mountain itinerary.
Features: itinerant; cultural and historical; experiential; natural; food and wine.
Accommodation: 1700 countryhouse, farmhouses, hotels and albergo diffuso (restored house for tourism).
Where to eat: restaurants and farmhouses.
Group size: 6-16 people.
Difficulty: challenging
Difficult uphills and downhills and flat stretches. Guardiaregia-Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia) and Campitello Matese (San Massimo)-Roccamandolfi are marked out by very demanding stretches, which require an adequate physical and mental preparation. Every day the total height differences are approaching or exceeding 1000 meters, both uphill and downhill. The trek is accessible to suitably trained people and used to walking, to mountains and, therefore, to long ascents and descents. However, the trails are not technical routes and mountaineering material are not necessarily required, though hiking equipment is needed. The journey is on foot and is itinerant. Short transfers are by motorized vehicle. The overnight stays are comfortable.
Length of the itinerary: 89 km.
Total height difference, uphill: +4645 m.
Total height difference, downhill: -4670 m.
Villages we meet and visit are interesting. The villages are small and perched on the first mountain climbs: Guardiaregia with its Medieval village and the ravine of Quirino stream; Roccamandolfi, with the castle on the top of the hill, its sories about the historical phenomenon of Brigandage and its beautiful old town.
The path is characterised by the ascent to some of the different peaks of Matese. Monte Mutria (1823 meters above sea level) is characterised by the presence of lush woods, steep and rocky slopes, a great panoramic ridge line and a wide peak separated by several crevices with small outcropping rocks. La Gallinola (1923 meters above sea level) is the other peak of the journey and is characterised by being a rocky mountain without arboreal vegetation, especially in the highest part, with an extensive and elegant ridge. Finally, Monte Miletto (2050 meters above sea level), which is the highest summit of Matese and stands majestic, with an austere appearance. From all the peaks you can see the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas at the same time.
During the rest, we can attend significant people. They storytell histories and traditions of the rural and pastoral Molise’s culture.
Matese, a mountain range with many historical and cultural examples. On the way we will visit the archaeological areas of Saepinum (Roman city), San Pietro di Cantoni (Samnite temple and Medieval church), the Conventino (Franciscan convent) and Saipins (Samnite village). We’ll meet a sample of countless transhumances, Regio Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela, we’ll visit the place of apparitions (occurred in 1888) of Madonna Addolorata and Cristo Morto and we’ll admire the amazing neo-gothic sanctuary of Basilica Minore of Castelpetroso. Finally, there are numerous mountain acquaintances in the different historical periods: the phenomenon of banditry stands out in particular.
The journey is enriched by the excellent traditional cuisine of Molise and its excellent drinks. Typical products and traditional dishes, often handmade and old-fashioned, cheer up the evenings of walkers. You can taste cheeses such as caciocavallo, pecorino, burrata, manteca and others; cured meats like soppressata, ventricina, capicollo, rolled up ventresca, etc.; local and seasonal vegetables and legumes. You can drink Moscato white wine and Tintilia red wine.
The Nature Reserve of Guardiaregia-Campochiaro, which gives life to the second Italian oasis by extension of the WWF (3135 hectares), highlights the high naturalistic quality of this route. In this protected area we’ll be able to find out the accesses of two of the deepest caves of the peninsula: Pozzo della Neve and Cul di Bove. In addition, we’ll get the great chance to admire the side of Roccamandolfi of Monte Miletto, awe-inspiring and wild, which starting from 1200 meters shows signs of ice erosion, between steep valleys, canyons, overhanging rocks, glacial cirques, moraines and rocks. The journey becames even more beautiful while crossing the gorge of the Callora stream.
Arrival at Bojano and meeting with Professional Nature and Interpretive Guide.
Transfer by motorized vehicle to Piana dell’Olmo district (Sepino).
Accommodation and explanation of the journey.
Dinner in a 1700 countryhouse and meeting with the owners.
The night will be in the same structure, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After exhaustion of rooms there is the possibility to sleep in the nearby villages, in a farmhouse or in a bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Piana dell’Olmo (Sepino) to Guardiaregia.
Packed lunch.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After exhaustion of rooms in bed-and-breakfasts, in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
A day dedicated to archeology and history. From, the 1700 countryhouse we’ll reach Regio Tratturo Pescasseroli-Candela (ancient track for the transhumance) and we’ll set off towards the Roman city of Saepinum, before moving on to the Italic temple and then Medieval church of San Pietro di Cantoni, to Conventino (Franciscan convent) and arriving at the Samnite village of Saipins. After the last excavation, we’ll go up towards the mountain cottage called Casino Albanese. From here down to the village of Guardiaregia, among wide views of the underlying plain of Bojano.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6,5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 19 km.
Total difference in height (up): +720 m.
Total difference in height (down): -720 m.
Difficulty: moderate.
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Guardiaregia to Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia).
Packed lunch.
At the end of walking day, transfer by motorized vehicle to farmhouse for the rest.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
We’ll enter the Regional Reserve of Guardiaregia-Campochiaro, a WWF oasis as well, and admire the ravine of Quirino stream and then the monumental beech trees of ” Tre Frati “. Then we’ll keep going on climbing, first on Monte Palumbaro (1552 meters above sea level), characterised by a rocky peak and by the beautiful view over the valley of the village of Pietraroja, and then on Monte Mutria. Once reached the summit, we’ll go down again on the opposite side up to Sella del Perrone, between the “dwarf beech forest”, wide openings on the beautiful lake of Matese and panoramic views on Monte Mutria.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 7 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 19 km.
Total difference in height (up): +1270 m.
Total difference in height (down): -810 m.
Difficulty: challenging.
After the breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle from the farmhouse to Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia).
Then, starting of walking day from Sella del Perrone (Guardiaregia) to Campitello Matese (San Massimo).
Packed lunch.
Dinner in restaurant.
Night in different hotels, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Sella del Perrone we will be following the path that leads to the accesses of Cul di Bove caves first and then of Pozzo della Neve II and Pozzo della Neve. Then we’ll walk up to Sogliette degli Abeti, and then reach Piano della Corte. From here we’ll start climbing up to the top of La Gallinola (1923 meters above sea level). Once we’ll reached the summit, we’ll go down to the other side and get to Campitello Matese.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 5,5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 17.5 km.
Total difference in height (up): +945 m.
Total difference in height (down): -780 m.
Difficulty: challenging.
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Campitello Matese (San Massimo) to Roccamandolfi.
Packed lunch.
Dinner in restaurant.
Night in hotel, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After exhaustion of rooms in hotel, in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Campitello Matese we’ll climb up to the top of Monte Miletto. Once we’ll reached the summit, we’ll go down towards Roccamandolfi, through the awe-inspiring and challenging Fondacone valley, where erosion has given life to two very characteristic rocky spurs: Campanarielli (small bells shaped). The wood surrounding the two peaks gives an added value to the whole place.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6,5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 16 km.
Total difference in height (up): +760 m.
Total difference in height (down): -1380 m.
Difficulty: difficult.
After the breakfast, starting of walking day from Roccamandolfi to Basilica Minore dell’Addolorata (Castelpetroso).
Packed lunch.
At the end of walking day, 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’ (restored house for tourism), in bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Roccamandolfi we’ll cross the gorge of Callora stream, characterised by waterfalls and pools. Once crossed the water course, we’ll wander Colle di Mezzo and then La Difenzola on a comfortable cart path. Then we’ll pass under Monte Patalecchia (1400 meters s.l.m.) and we’ll get to the place of the apparitions of Beata Vergine and Cristo Morto, and then keep going down to the Neo-Gothic sanctuary below dedicated to the Madonna.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 17.5 km.
Total difference in height (up): +950 m.
Total difference in height (down): -980 m.
Difficulty: medium.
Time to say goodbye and go back.
After breakfast, we’ll visit Isernia and the important archaeological area of the Paleolitico La Pineta Site of Isernia, dating back to 700,000 years ago.
Afterwards, transfer to the railway or bus station.
For group from 6 to 16 people.
| Start | Finish | Availability |
| 18/06/23 | 24/06/23 | Available |
| 02/07/23 | 08/07/23 | Available |
| 22/07/23 | 28/07/23 | Available |
| 06/08/23 | 12/08/23 | Available |
| 24/09/23 | 30/09/23 | Available |
| 22/10/23 | 28/10/23 | Available |
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.
