Next departure: 08 April 2023
The tour “Transhumance tracks in Molise” aims to raise awareness of the environments, the history and the architectural examples of transhumance in central and southern Italy, as well as the sensations that itinerant shepherds enjoyed through the slow steps and the succession of the different daily work phases.
Duration: 4 walking days, 5 nights, 6 days overall.
Destination: from Taverna del Cortile (Ripalimosani) to Fiume Biferno (Larino).
Typology: low-moderate hills paths.
Features: itinerant; cultural and historical; natural; experiential and food and wine.
Accommodation: Bed-and-breakfasts, hostel and farmhouses.
Where to eat: restaurants, home restaurant and farmouses.
Group size: 6-16 people.
Difficulty: easy
4 walking days, covering a total distance of 78 km. Few difficult ascents. Many descents and flat stretches. Every day the total uphill height differences are about or slightly exceed 500 meters. Downhills height differences are slightly larger – roughly more than 600 meters on average daily – but they do not present any difficulty because they are spread over good distances. The trekking is accessible to everyone, even if you need to be trained for walking. Cortile-Centocelle and Tratturi Celano-Foggia and Sant’Andrea-Biferno are not technical routes and are not particularly difficult. The journey is on foot and is itinerant. Short transfers are by motorized vehicle. The overnight stays are comfortable.
Length of the itinerary: 78 km.
Total height difference, uphill: +2050 m.
Total height difference, downhill: -2710 m.
“Transhumance tracks in Molise” offers as well the opportunity to learn about the historical and architectural heritage of some of the most beautiful towns of Molise: Campobasso and its medieval hill with the castle Monforte on top, as well as the nineteenth-century district; Ripabottoni and its conspicuous heritage of churches, palaces and fountains; Rotello and its medieval center composed of baronial palaces and churches; Larino and its remarkable Roman, medieval and modern sample.
The journey crosses a hilly area, used for centuries in agriculture and transhumant pastoralism. While keep going from the internal side of Molise towards the coast, hills become less marked, woods here and there stretched on them will decrease and the rurality of the places will be more evident, until becoming an exclusive feature in the valley of the river Fortore and along the entire Regio Tratturo Sant’Andrea-Biferno. In this journey we can walk immersed in fields planted with cereals and forage, as well as admire beautiful olive groves and large and small farms, especially concerning sheeps.
During the rest, you can attend significant people. They storytell histories and traditions of the rural and pastoral Molise’s culture. Then, we meet and get to know a group of enterprising young people who make experiential tourism their life project.
We’ll walk on Cortile-Centocelle track and on Regio Tratturo Celano-Foggia and Sant’Andrea-Biferno, which are historical and cultural heritages, as well as tracks designed for the movement of animals and men. All the three tracks represent centuries of comings and goings through the hills of Molise, with the final aim of reaching summer mountain pastures of Abruzzo and Molise and the flat and winter ones of Apulia.
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.
Along their routes we can admire some remains of buildings of transhumant civilization: Taverna del Cortile (built before 1600), a rest place for shepherds; the church of Santa Maria della Strada (12th century), one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in central and southern Italy; the elegant Villa di Centocelle and the next church of Santa Maria delle Rose, the first one a rest place for shepherds and herds, the second one a religious landmark along the green road; the beautiful eighteenth-century rural chapel of Sant’Elena, another place of worship of herdsmen; the old Well of Sant’Andrea, a further important point of transhumance; the awe-inspiring and ruined Vecchio Molino, located on the left bank of the river Fortore.
Arrival at Campobasso and meeting with Professional Nature and Interpretive Guide.
Accommodation and explanation of the journey.
Visit of the historical center.
Dinner at restaurant.
Night in different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After the breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle from the center of Campobasso to Taverna del Cortile.
Then, starting of walking day from Taverna del Cortile (Ripalimosani) to Villa di Centocelle (Sant’Elia Pianisi).
Packed lunch.
At the end of walking day, transfer motorized vehicle to Ripabottoni.
Dinner at trattoria.
Night in different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Taverna del Cortile we’ll follow what remains of Cortile-Centocelle, to plunge into the silence of Molise countryside. Along the Medieval village of Matrice, we’ll visit the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria della Strada and climb to the pass of Campolieto. We’ll still walk in the direction of the hill of Femmina Morta (898 meters above sea level), and to go down, then, to the beautiful and elegant Villa di Centocelle.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 21 km.
Difference in height (up): +520 m.
Difference in height (down): -480 m.
Difficulty: medium.
After the breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle from the village of Ripabottoni to Villa di Centocelle.
Then, starting of walking day from Villa di Centocelle (Sant’Elia a Pianisi) to Cappella di Sant’Elena (San Giuliano di Puglia).
Packed lunch.
At the end of walking day, transfer by motorized vehicle to farmhouse or to Bonefro.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom. After exhaustion of rooms in farmhouse, in different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Villa di Centocelle we’ll descend towards the graft with Regio Tratturo Celano-Foggia. Once reached the main artery, we will cross hilly places with toponyms related to transhumance: Scorciacapra and Taverna Vecchia. Then we’ll go down and climb up the valley of Cigno stream (a tributary of Occhito’s Lake) and we’ll reach the pass between Monte Ferrone (759 m a.s.l.) and Colle Cinolfo (732 m a.s.l.). From here, we’ll start to see Tavoliere delle Puglie and the promontory of Gargano. We’ll slowly reach the Chapel of Sant’Elena, enjoying the landscape on the surrounding hills, Dauni Mountains (extreme north of Puglia) and the villages of Bonefro and San Giuliano di Puglia.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 16 km.
Difference in height (up): +540 m.
Difference in height (down): -640 m.
Difficulty: moderate.
After the breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle from a farmhouse or from village of Bonefro to Cappella di Sant’Elena.
Then, starting of walking day from Cappella di Sant’Elena (San Giuliano di Puglia) to Colle Nevera (Rotello).
Packed lunch.
At the end of walking day, transfer by motorized vehicle to Larino.
Before of the dinner, visit of medieval Larino.
Dinner at restaurant.
Night in hostel, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After exhaustion of rooms in hostel, in bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
We’ll descend into the valley of Fortore, between cultivated fields and farms, until crossing the river. Once slightly climbed, we’ll leave Celano-Foggia to take Regio Tratturo Sant’Andrea-Biferno. We will always be walking between cultivated fields and farms or animal husbandry, in silent places and with very little human presence. After crossing Tona stream, we’ll get to Colle Nevera, the final point of this stage.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 21 km.
Difference in height (up): +520 m.
Difference in height (down): -780 m.
Difficulty: moderate.
After the breakfast, visit of Larino Roman amphitheater and transfer by motorized vehicle from Larino to Colle Nevera.
Starting of walking day from Colle Nevera (Rotello) to Fiume Biferno (Larino).
Packed lunch.
At the end of walking day, transfer by motorized vehicle to a farmhouse.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
After exhaustion of rooms in farmhouse, in a hostel or in a bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
We’ll go down to the bed of Biferno river, among easy ups and downs on rolling hills suitable for the cultivation of olive trees, fodder and cereals. We may see Adriatic sea. We will meet many small waterways. The stretch where we’ll get to Cigno stream (the largest tributary of the Biferno river) is suggestive. Once got to the main river of Molise, we’ll finish our walking and hiking trail.
Technical features of the journey
Duration: 5,5 hours (rest-times not included).
Lenght of the trek: 20 km.
Difference in height (up): +470 m.
Difference in height (down): -810 m.
Difficulty: easy.
Time to say goodbye and go back.
After the breakfast, transfer by motorized vehicle from farmhouse to Termoli.
Visit of the historical center and transfer to the railway or bus station of Termoli.
Otherwise, transfer by motorized vehicle to Campobasso for departure from the main city.
For group from 6 to 16 people.
| Start | Finish | Availability |
| 08/04/23 | 13/04/23 | 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.
