Contact me by info@molisetrekking.com for a date
The tour “Transhumance tracks in Molise” aims to raise awareness of the environment, the history, and the architectural examples of transhumance in central and southern Italy, as well as the experiences that nomadic shepherds enjoyed through a slow pace and the methodic daily work phases.
Duration: 4 walking days, 5 nights, 6 days overall
Destination: from Taverna del Cortile (Ripalimosani) to Fiume Biferno (Larino).
Trail Type: low-mid level hill paths
Features: traveling from place to place; cultural and historical; natural; experiential and food and wine.
Accommodation: Bed-and-Breakfasts, hostels, and farmhouses.
Where to eat: restaurants and farmhouses.
Group size: 8-12 people. Extra charge for small group until to 4 people.
Difficulty: easy
4 walking days, covering a total distance of 78 km (48 mi). Few difficult ascents, many descents, and many flat stretches. Every day the total uphill height differences are about or slightly exceed 500 meters (1640 ft). Downhill height differences are slightly larger – roughly more than 600 meters (2000 ft) on an average daily – but they do not present any difficulty because they are spread over long distances. The trekking is accessible to all ability levels, even if you are a beginner. 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 overnight locations change. Short transfers are by motorized vehicle. The overnight stays are comfortable.
Length of the itinerary: 78 km (48 mi)
Total elevation gain: +2050 m (+6725 ft)
Total elevation loss: -2710 m (-8891 ft)
“Transhumance tracks in Molise” offers the opportunity to learn about the historical and archeological heritage of some of the most beautiful towns of Molise: Campobasso and its medieval hill with Castle Monforte on top, as well as the 19th century district; Ripobottoni and its notable heritage of churches, palaces, and fountains; Rotello and its medieval center composed of baronial palaces and churches; Larino and its remarkable remnants of Roman, medieval, and modern eras.
The journey crosses a hilly area, used for centuries in agriculture and transhumant pastoralism. While going from the western side of Molise towards the coast, hills lessen, woods decrease, and the rurality of the places becomes 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 beautiful olive groves and large and small farms, often with sheep.
During our breaks we meet many local people. They tell stories and traditions of the rural and pastoral culture of Molise. Then, we meet and get to know a group of enterprising young people who have made experiential tourism their life project.
We walk on the tracks Cortile-Centocelle, Regio Tratturo Celano-Foggia, and Sant’Andrea-Biferno, which are historical and cultural heritages having been 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.
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.
Along the routes we will admire some remains of buildings of transhumant civilization: Taverna del Cortile (built before 1600), a resting place for shephards; 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 Centocella and the church of Santa Maria delle Rose, the former a resting place for shephards and herds, the latter a religious landmark along the green road; the beautiful 18th 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.
Day 1
Arrival at Campobasso 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 different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with a private bathroom.
Day 2
After breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle from the center of Campobasso to Taverna del Cortile.
Then, we start the hike from Taverna del Cortile (Ripalimosani) to Villa de Centocelle (Sant’Elia Pianisi).
Packed lunch.
At the end of the day, we transfer bymotorized vehicle to Ripabottoni.
Dinner at trattoria.
Night at different bed and breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Taverna del Cortile we follow what remains of Cortile-Centocelle, to immerse ourselves in the silence of Molise countryside. Along the medieval village of Matrice, we visit the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria della Strada and hike to the pass of Campolieto. We continue walking in the direction of the hill of Femmina Morta (898 meters (2946 ft) above sea level), and to go down, then, to the beautiful and elegant Villa di Centocelle.
Technical Information
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 21 km (13 mi)
Elevation gain: +520 m (+1706 ft)
Elevation loss: -480 m (-1574 ft)
Difficulty: medium
Day 3
After breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle from the village of Ripabottoni to Villa di Centocelle.
Then, we start the hike from Villa di Centocelle (Sant’Elia a Pianisi) to Cappella di Sant’Elena (San Giuliano di Puglia).
Packed lunch.
At the end of the day, we transfer by motorized vehicle to a farmhouse or to Bonefro.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
If needed, in different bed-and-breakfasts, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
From Villa di Centocelle we descend towards the trail crossing with Regio Tratturo Celano-Foggia. Once we reach the main artery, we will cross hilly places with names related to transhumance: Scorciacapra and Taverna Vecchia. Then we go down and climb up the valley of Cigno stream (a tributary of Occhito’s Lake) and we reach the pass between Monte Ferrone (759 m (2490 ft) a.s.l.) and Colle Cinolfo (732 m (2401 ft) a.s.l.). From here, we start to see Tavoliere delle Puglie and the promontory of Gargano. We slowly reach the Chapel of Sant’Elena, enjoying the landscape on the surrounding hills, Dauni Mountains (far north of Puglia) and the villages of Bonefro and San Giuliano di Puglia.
Technical information
Duration: 5 hours (rest-times not included).
Length of the trek: 16 km (10 mi)
Elevation gain: +540 m (+1771 ft)
Elevation loss: -640 m (-2099 ft)
Difficulty: moderate.
Day 4
After breakfast, we transfer by motorized vehicle from a farmhouse or from the village of Bonefro to Cappella di Sant’Elena.
Then, we start our hike from Capella di Sant’Elena (San Giuliano di Puglia) to Colle Nevera (Rotello).
Packed lunch.
At the end of the day, we transfer my motorized vehicle to Larino.
Before of the dinner, we visit medieval Larino.
Dinner at restaurant.
Night in hostel, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
If needed, in bed and breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
We descend into the valley of Fortore, between cultivated fields and farms, until crossing the river. After a bit of a walk, we leave Celano-Foggia to take Regio Tratturo Sant’Andrea-Biferno. We always walk between cultivated fields and farms or animal husbandry, in peaceful, remote places and with very little human presence. After crossing Tona stream, we get to Colle Nevera, the final point of this section of the journey.
Technical Information
Duration: 6 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 21 km (13 mi)
Elevation gain: +520 m (+1706 ft)
Elevation loss: -780 m (-2559 ft)
Difficulty: moderate
Day 5
After breakfast, we visit the Larino Roman Amphitheatre and transfer by motorized vehicle from Larino to Colle Nevera.
We begin our hike from Colle Nevera (Rotello) to Fiume Biferno (Larino).
Packed lunch.
At the end of the day, we transfer by motorized vehicle to a farmhouse.
Dinner at farmhouse.
Night in farmhouse, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
If needed, in a hostel or in a bed-and-breakfast, in twin rooms with private bathroom.
We go down to the bed of the Biferno river, situated among the rolling hills suitable for the cultivation of olive trees, fodder, and cereals. We may see the Adriatic sea. We meet many small waterways. The stretch where we get to the Cigno stream (the largest tributary of the Biferno river) is beautiful. Once we get to the main river of Molise, we finish our walking and hiking for the trip.
Technical Information
Duration: 5.5 hours (rest-times not included)
Length of the trek: 20 km (12.4 mi)
Elevation gain: +470 m (+1541 ft)
Elevation loss: -810 m (-2657 ft)
Difficulty: easy
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.
