Thanks to a scientific “ringing” of one specimen of Barn Owl we were able to obtain new data concerning the movement of this still relatively unknown species. A special thank you to Carlo Artese who marked one adult Barn Owl on March 9th, 2012 in Isola del Gran Sasso, Teramo Province. Unfortunately, after almost two months this specimen was found dead in the vicinity of the WWF’s area at Penne Lake about 21 km from where the bird started its journey. A farmer brought to the WWF Oasis only one leg of the bird, detached from the body, but still with the ring! Probably the animal was hit by a car, one of the leading causes of mortality for the species. The time of tracing was too short yet useful to build a better knowledge and experience of how this species moves.

The Barn Owl is a nocturnal bird of prey typical of Italy and Abruzzo. Unfortunately it is  sharply declining in numbers. It does not migrate and feeds on rodents and shrews. This bird is a great hunter thanks to a miraculous hearing and sight adapted to life at night. Often nests in old abandoned buildings and in attics of houses in the countryside. In the first picture above a group of chicks almost ready to fly away , taken in a rather special nest, a little house prepared for them in the WWF Oasis at the Atri ravines .
(Credit for the first pic goes to Adriano De Ascentiis, director of the SOA, Abruzzo Ornithological Center)

We have decided to keep the story of this hiking exactly as Alessio Massari, our friend and professional excursion guide from Abruzzo, sent it to us. It sounds like a detailed report of a beautiful day. Enjoy!
“…Today’s hiking is one of the most difficult of all on the Majella Range, we are heading to “Monte Amaro”. This is the highest peak of the Majella Range and the second highest, after Corno Grande, Gran Sasso, of all Appennini. Monte Amaro in Italian means Bitter Mountain and we learned that this name is very explicative of the fatigue and difficulties one encounters when trying to reach the top. It is therefore important to make this tour only if in perfect physical conditions, used to this type of excursions and always taken by a professional guide!
We leave from 4788 Ft of altitude, in “Località Lama Bianca”, where there is a sign to a fountain, “Fonte della Chiesa”. Here, after a short walk into a thick beech forest, we get to the fountain, a useful stop to fill up our water containers.

“Fonte della Chiesa” fountain

We keep walking over wide mountain pastures until we re-enter the beech forest . As we get out of it we see the so called “Rava del Ferro” easy to recognize for the red color of the soil.

“Rava del Ferro”, red soil in the distance

By “Rava” we mean a very sharp decline caused by millenniums of water flowing down to the valley. Looking up we see that our path almost disappears under the gravel of the ravine in a narrow corridor in between rocks. It is a very steep slope but we bravely decide to keep going.

Looking up at“Rava del ferro”

We stop often to recover energy and breath and to look at the stunning view behind and below us. Watching from here the Morrone Mountain, that initially almost faced us, becomes smaller and smaller and in the distance we can now admire the Gran Sasso peaks.

A view of the Morrone Mountain, down below, and the Gran Sasso range in the distance

Our attention is often caught by the unusual shape of some of the stones on our path. Watching them close we realize that they are sea fossils, small sea shells and fragments of corals. In fact, over a hundred million years ago, these mountains were submerged in a tropical ocean and, what today is the Majella Mountain, once was a a coral reef!. We finally get to a plateau where we eat a byte, to recover energies, and of course we watch the beautiful landscape in front of us.

A well deserved rest!

Back on track we walk for another hour until we finally reach “Piano Amaro”. It is a sort of highland with alpine meadows where we can admire a unique Apennine edelweiss. Finally after walking along a mountain crest we reach the Monte Amaro Peak.

We did it!!

Here Rifugio Pelino offers a shelter from the strong, perennial winds. There is no vegetation here, only a land of white stones shining under the beautiful sun that is up in the sky today. We are all intimidated by the majesty of the mountain but at the same time we are very proud to be here.

The Pelino Retreat on top of Monte Amaro

Up here we feel like touching the universe roof! Our view extends 360° well over the limits of our region, Abruzzo. We see Lazio Region from here and Molise and Marche to the North. Some say that, on clear days, it is possible to see the Croatian Coast, on the other side of the Adriatic Sea! We definitely see the entire Adriatic coast below us till Gargano Promontory to the South.

Monte Amaro faces the Adriatic Coast

It is already time to get back and to descend we decide to take another path and go via the “Rava della Vespa” that runs parallel to the “Rava del Ferro”. When we get to the edge of our descent track we realize that it is very, very steep so we decide to go down somehow helped by the flow of stones that as we walk fall down. However we have to be very careful as most of the stones are too big to let us slide safely on them and too small to be a support for the descent.

A challenging descent

We go down carefully and slowly and it takes about two hours to cover a height difference of over 2624 Ft. until we reah the end of the “Rava” and the beginning of a further slope, covered with grass, yet very difficult to walk on.

Wild horses we met on our way back

Finally we get back into the beech forest and back to “Fonte della Chiesa” where we started our day. It is the sunset, the mountain above us turns pink and then yellow until it gets dark. The moon is rising and by the time we reach our cars it is high in the sky illuminating the mountain with an unreal, beautiful light. We were up there just a while ago!

Monte Amaro illuminated by the rising moon

A fox looks like waiting for us in the dark! It is very common to see them in the National Park of Majella.

A fox waiting for us in the dark

The last emotion of the day is offered to us by the sun light setting behind the Gran Sasso National Park.”

Sun set on the Gran Sasso National Park

If you want to contact Alessio for more information about the above described places or the possibility of going hiking with him you can email him at massarialessio@hotmail.it

Today Alessio will take us on a tour in the Orfento Valley originating its name after the River Orfento. The river, over millions of years, has eroded its course in one of the most interesting mountain landscapes in the Majella Mountain down to the Town of Caramanico Terme (Pescara Province, about 60 km West of TANTO Wines Cellar). This area was declared Natural Reservation in 1970 and subsequently incorporated in the Majella National Park. It extends from  500 to 2,676 mt. of elevation on Mount Focalone, a “giant” of limestone, the third highest peak of the Majella.

The top part of the Orfento Valley at the base of Mount Focalone

In this area the considerable height differences and the diversity of exposures result in a high variability in climate and vegetation. It gradually changes from high alpine meadows and thick “Pinus Mugo” Forests, relics of ancient glaciations of the Quaternary, to lush beech forests that are only occasionally interrupted by steep cliffs overlooking the valley, where, set like diamonds, are old huts and monasteries reflecting the perfect synergy between men and the surrounding environment that once characterized this valley.

A stunning view of the varied vegetation from the Pinus Mugo Forrest to the Beech Forrest

We will start our easy/interesting, four hours tour with Alessio, our guide, at the base of the so called Caramanico Bridge, where for about 1 hour we will ascend the Orfento River following the picturesque track that sometimes wades the river with the help of characteristic wooden bridges.

A view of the initial part of the Valley

Once we reach the St.Cataldo Bridge path moves slightly away from the river into a sparse undergrowth consisting mainly of riparian flora alternating with Mediterranean floristic elements of great naturalistic value. Then after about half an hour walk the trail climbs gently in and out of the woods to open in a splendid panoramic view of the central part of the valley which penetrates deeper into the heart of the Majella.

A view of the initial part of the Orfento Valley

We will walk a little further until we reach the so called Vallone Bridge on the right of the Valley where we will rest by a small refreshing waterfall enjoying a break and a nice “panino” before we smoothly walk back to the starting point.

The Vallone Bridge

If you want to contact Alessio for more information about the above described places or the possibility of going hiking with him you can email him at massarialessio@hotmail.it

We will start this interesting tour in the National Park of Majella guided by Alessio Massari who will be our TANTO partner for hiking through natural environments in Abruzzo.

Watching it from far away the Majella Mountain appears solid  and compact, however as you get closer you can admire its unexpected and amazing side made of a network of long ditches. Sometimes they are deep, arid, cut into the rock like canyons; sometimes they are more open and lush with streams on the bottom, as in Alpine valleys.

The high peaks of Majella

Those who will venture at an altitude of about 8000 feet, will discover an incredible world of barren, rolling stony lands, a particular environment, almost lunar, unique in the Apennines. People in Abruzzo consider Majella the “Magic Mountain”. The story tells that its name originates from the worship of the Goddess Maja, the great mother, a symbol of fertile land. And in the sinuous shape of the mountain skyline many, over the centuries, have seen a sleeping female shape, maternal and seductive at the same time. In consideration of its unique environment this area has been declared National Park, an area that, from a naturalistic point of view, is extraordinarily rich in fauna and flora. With it’s over 1700 different types of plants it covers over 30% of the Italian flora!

The high peaks of Majella

Our virtual journey will start from the “Pomilio Bruno” Shelter, at 6200 feet of elevation and will continue along a path that goes by a small votive Church named “Madonnina” where it deviates to the right getting around the so called “Blockhaus” Mountain overlooking the scenic “Orfento Valley”. After a short detour to see the “Tavola dei Briganti” (literally the Table of the Bandits), a limestone slab engraved in all different ways and with all different writings by the shepherds going by with their flock at the time of Italy’s unification.
We will continue along the ridge called “Scrimacavallo”, which is a watershed between two of the larger and wilder valleys on the Majella: the Orfento Valley and the “Selva Romana Valley”.

Scrimacavallo Ridge

After a short refreshing break at a natural water fountain we will take a path on the left that goes through bushes of “Pino Mugo” a special type of pine typical of this area. This path, that in some places is equipped with chains and steel cables to facilitate the most exposed sections, goes right over the Selva Romana Valley, a quite narrow and impressive gorge that shortly after widens into a peaceful valley, home to many “chamois” a type of deer very popular in this part of Abruzzo.

The wild Selva Romana Valley

We will keep going toward the back of the “Murelle” natural amphitheater and will climb towards the “Fusco Camp” reaching the altitude of just over 8000 feet. From here, in clear days you can enjoy the stunning view of the Adriatic Sea.

The morainic amphitheater of Murelle

And with the Adriatic Sea colors in your eyes you will start your descent from the “Mount Focalone” back to Pomilio Shelter where we started.

Fusco Camp on the slopes of Mount Focalone

Alessio, who is going to take us on our virtual tours in the natural environment of Abruzzo is a professional Hiking Guide. He graduated at L’Aquila University in Science and Technology for the Environment and Territory ( Management of terrestrial and marine ecosystems). If you want to contact Alessio for more information about the above described places or the possibility of going hiking with him you can email him at massarialessio@hotmail.it