Campli nature and knowledge
Duration: 3 days
FIRST DAY
Old Town
Campli, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, is a quiet town, a destination for lovers of slow tourism, away from mass tourist flows. In Campli the holiday becomes a regenerating cultural baggage.
It is advisable to arrive early in the morning, especially if you choose Sunday, market day.
Settle into the chosen accommodation and then begin the visit of the Borgo.
In the locality of Fosso di Manzo, free parking is available for cars and also for tourist buses. An area is reserved for campers, at the Ex Mattatoio, in Via Roma, 300 m from the historic center of Campli.
Walking along the main street of the village, you arrive in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. The Tourist Office of the Municipality of Campli is located at no. 4, under the Loggiato of the ancient Palazzo Farnese. By booking in advance, you can take advantage of a guided tour.
Begin your visit to the treasures of the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Platea and its Crypt (open 8: 00-12: 00 15: 00-18: 00). Leaving the Cathedral, stop and admire the external architecture of Palazzo Farnese, one of the oldest civic buildings in Abruzzo. On the left, you will cross the Margaret of Austria Gardens, which will lead you to the Sanctuary of the Scala Santa and the adjoining Church of San Paolo.
For a typical breakfast we recommend a stop at a master porchettaio, to taste the typical Camplese porchetta.
For lunch you can choose between a typical restaurant in the historic center or a country farmhouse. The cost can vary from € 15.00 to 20.00, per person, for a typical lunch, from € 20.00 to 30.00, per person, for a truffle-based lunch.
In the afternoon...
After a Camplean lunch, a walk through the characteristic streets of Campli is recommended, among ancient palaces, churches and loggias. Do not miss a visit to the internal courtyard of the Casa del Medico, a typical example of Renaissance architecture.
Taking advantage of the external walk of the historic center, which overlooks the green hills up to the Adriatic coast, it is possible to reach the medieval district of Castelnuovo, where the Porta Angioina is located, a rare example of defense architecture (13th century). Continuing on Via Porta Orientale then Via Carrese at n.195 you will find the small church of Santa Maria delle Piane, built in the nineteenth century. to house the fifteenth-century frescoed aedicule attributed to Giacomo da Campli.
Returning to the historic center, dedicate the conclusion of your itinerary to a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Campli where the precious finds of the Italic settlements of the Pretuzi (XII-II century BC) are kept. For dinner you can opt for pizza or arrosticini in one of the local areas.
SECOND DAY
Dedicate the second day to visiting the archaeological area of the Necropolis of Campovalano. The site, located 2 kilometers from the historic center, can be reached by car or comfortably on foot in just 30 minutes, via the Nordic walking route no.1 which will lead you to the verdant Campovalano plain (openings, Mon-Fri. 9: 00-15: 00, Saturday and Sunday by reservation). A five-minute walk from the Necropolis you will find the Church of San Pietro Apostolo, one of the oldest medieval religious complexes in the region. Outside there is a wonderful park if you opt for a packed lunch or take away in some of the restaurants in the area.
In the afternoon...
We recommend a visit to the medieval district of Nocella with the Torre del Melatino. The itinerary can be concluded with a visit to an artisan producer of liqueurs, honey, soda, milk and dairy products, truffles or a Camplese oil mill.
THIRD DAY
Valley of the Squirrels or Monte Foltrone
The distance to reach the location of the excursion is about 7 km from the historic center.
We recommend: suitable clothing, hiking shoes, water and a packed lunch. After having breakfast in Campli, you can dedicate the third day to a tourist and / or excursion walk on the nearby Monte Foltrone or Montagna di Campli in the group of the Twin Mountains.
Valley of the Squirrels
You leave from the historic center by car, along the SP 262 towards La Traversa. At the roundabout, take the first exit on the right, towards Ascoli Piceno. After traveling 200 meters of the SS 81, turn left to take the SP51 towards Battaglia. After 1.6 km, you will find the hamlet cemetery on the left. It is advisable to leave the car nearby. Continuing on foot (200 m), before a fountain, you will find, on the left, the CAI signposts that indicate the route and travel time.
Path 425 leads to the discovery of the Valley of the Squirrels, a naturalistic paradise full of small streams, rock walls and mixed forests of holm oaks, beeches, oaks and reforestation of conifers,
The path surrounded by nature is also suitable for families with children.
The short walk comes along a dirt road immersed in the woods to the clearings of Sant'Eremo (30 minutes). From here, turning right, you go back, first through the suggestive Fontanelle path (425E) and then along the Cascatella path (425D) to the starting point (1 hour).
The more experienced, from Sant’Eremo, can continue the itinerary, crossing the Giardino wood, up to the Valico della Forchetta, located at the end of the valley at an altitude of 1260 m (1.5 hours from Sant’Eremo). From the Forchetta the panorama ranges from the rocky walls of the west side of Monte Foltrone, to Monte della Farina, to the eastern peaks of the Gran Sasso chain and to the Majella in a wild environment surrounded by large centuries-old beech trees. On the way back, you follow the same itinerary as the outward journey.
Summit of Monte Foltrone (Excursion for trained walkers. Journey time 3.00 hours one way, 2.30 hours return, difference in altitude 1000 m).
Once in the center of Battaglia (690 m), park the car in the town square. Follow the uphill road which, from the church, arrives at a crossroads with a crucifix (100 m). Then turn left (CAI poles, path 423) and take the dirt road that first crosses the cultivated land and then enters a coniferous forest. After about 30 minutes you will reach Fonte delle Trocche (900 m). Then turn right and continue along path 423 which runs along the ancient mule track to a second crossroads. Here you turn left and continue, with a series of hairpin bends in the woods, up to a clearing from which you reach the locality of Neviere (1400 m, 1.30 hours). The path then cuts to the right and, crossing a wide beech forest at the foot of the north ridge of Monticchio, reaches Pian Dell’Oro (1576 m 30 minutes). From here the path continues on the south-west ridge, up to the summit (1718 m, 30 minutes), where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the central Apennines, with a 360 ° view that goes from the Adriatic Sea, to the Majella, to the Gran Sasso, the Monti della Laga, the Sibillini, up to the Conero. On the way back, you follow the same itinerary as the outward journey.
For information and reservations:
Tourist Office of the Municipality of Campli
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 4
Tel. +39 0861 5601207
E-mail: turismo@comune.campli.te.it
