Valley of Orfento II

MAJELLA NATIONAL PARK

THE SECRETS OF ABRUZZO

presents

“THE ORFENTO VALLEY II”

Getting to know and explore the Majella Mountains, as a first approach, our site "THE SECRETS OF ABRUZZO" invites you to visit one of the most evocative and mysterious places in Abruzzo.

An ideal route for those who love the river and its water.

In the heart of the Maiella’s National Park (Majella)

near Caramanico Terme (Pe)

Altitude: 650 meters

Coordinates: latitude 42°09′ 00” N - longitude 14°01′ 00” E

PERIOD: June

DIFFICULTY: Experienced Hikers

To reach the Valley from L'Aquila (85.5 km.) time: 1 h. 28 mins ..

Take the State Road 17 for Caporciano, Navelli, then the State Road 153 for Bussi up to State Road 5, Direction Tocco Casauria, then Provincial Road 66 for Bolognano, Salle, Regional Road 487 for Caramanico Terme to the Parking area at the Visitor Center.

For those coming from Pescara (50.5 KM.) 50 mins.,

Take the E80, then A25 towards State Road 5 / Regional Road 5 to Turrivalignani. Continue to the Alanno-Scafa exit from A25 / E80. Then Regional Road 487 in the direction of Via della Libertà to Caramanico Terme to the Parking area at the Visitor Center.

In the Natural State Reserve of Abruzzo, established since 1971/2, we have the Valley of Orfento I (Pescara), which occupies an area of 1,920 ha. and the Valley of Orfento II (Caramanco Terme) with 320 ha .. Both are integral part of the second highest mountain massif of the continental Apennines after the Gran Sasso, The “Majella” (or Maiella).

Located in the deepest valley of the northwestern side of the Majella, along a surface of 2606 hectares in the territory of “Caramanico Terme” and “Sant'Eufemia a Maiella”, flows the tributary of the Orta river, the Orfento River.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS

The altitudinal excursion of our itinerary is between 480 m. and 1070 m .. It’s not much if we consider that from the lowest part of the Orfento Valley to the highest of its territory, altitudes go from about 480 m. near Caramanico, up to 2676 m. of Mount Focalone.

Long 16 km., the river gives its name to the splendid valley where the water, over millions of years, has dug a narrow gorge that today we find sheltered by dense vegetation on which stand out beeches, willows, ferns, and mosses.

FIRST STEPS

Once obtained the authorization, by registrating the free ACCESS at the "Paolo Barrasso" Visitor Center of Caramanico Terme (the authorization is issued by the Majambiente cooperative www.majambiente.it), with the help of the map obtained from the Center, and in case we need them, also with our own maps of the territory, we begin moving towards the heart of the valley. Whoever wants can also download a copy of the map in advance from the website www.majambiente.it.

On our cell phones, we have installed GPS applications that will be able to trace the path we intend to do.

Our plans are to reach the Orfento river, and to move up its stretch, making not exactly a ring-route but round enough to get us back to our start point before the end of the day.

According to the routes indicated on the map, our itinerary crosses several others. What seems to be the most interesting one is indicated by an -S- on the map, and named as the “Sentiero Dello Spirito” (Path of the Spirit), long about 66 km. It’s one of the great treks in the park, which would require at least 4 days of walking to do it all. This path was one of the many paths of faith followed by the hermit Pietro del Morrone, also known as Pope Celestino V.

We begin moving from the town Caramanico Terme where we leave our means of transport at a parking lot, not far from the access point in the Reserve, near the side wall of church “Santa Caterina d'Alessandria in Santa Croce”. The path is indicated as "B2" according to the sections marked on the park’s map. It runs alongside the Hotel "La Réserve" and crosses various fields. The direction is towards “Ponte Del Vallone” (The Valley’s Bridge) on the Orfento river. Our GPS indicates an altitude of 635 m. o.s.l..

The first kilometer runs mostly along a dirt trail with its ups and downs, reaching 676 m. o.s.l., partially in the open air, and another part half-way up into the bush vegetation, leading to the first panoramic cliffs overlooking the valley.

For another mile and a half, it goes downwards, moving away from the river, at an altitude of 592 m . o.s.l..

Soon the trail leads us to a forest of beech trees, leaving the river below us and on our left, and then, after while, conveying directly on it.

Peeking through the trees I note several rapids and waterfalls that lead to the “Ponte Del Vallone” at about 2.70 km. from our starting point.

FIRST STOP AT THE “PONTE DEL VALLONE”

The bridge consists of a wooden walkway, which connects the two banks of the river, positioned on large stone boulders.

Once at the “Ponte Del Vallone” (Bridge of the big Valley) we spot a white-throated dipper. We know about the many bird species present in the park, and we can also hear many of them in the woods, but spotting them isn’t easy at all because of the dense vegetation around us.

Crossing the bridge we continue moving along the river towards the “Sentiero Dello Spirito” (The Path of The Spirit), which we want to reach and track up to “Ponte San Benedetto” (Saint Benedict Bridge), about 1 km. from where we are now.

SAINT BENEDICT BRIDGE

Even this bridge has a wooden walkway placed on a single central square pillar made of stone. The pillar splits the passage of the water in two. Currently, one side of the passage has been blocked by the wooden limbs dragged downstream from the upper part of the river.

Crossing this latter, without a particular reason, we return on the path indicated as "B2". Climbing we reach the most challenging point. With its greater difference in height, halfway up the slope and in the middle of the forest, with felled trees blown down by the snow storms in winters, fords, exposed and slippery passages. No particular technical skills are required to cross this stretch but rather a good training, and a sure footstep.

After a while, we reach "Piscia Giumenta", a very impressive stretch with about 100 m. of narrow path dug into the rocky cliff, equipped with a steel handrail, and overlooking the steep bank of the river. I don’t recommend this part of the trail to those who fear heights and to children especially when it rains because it’s almost always slippery. Here we’re around an altitude of about 740 m. o.s.l..

(Alternative route, to avoid the stretch, would be to stay on the "S" path and avoid crossing the Saint Benedict bridge.)

This part of the trail is rather slippery and the steel handrail becomes useful and guarantees a safe crossing. Once you have passed the latter, still immersed in the beech forest, we move up to the “Ponte Della Pietra” (Bridge of the Stone), about 7.75 km. from our start point.

SECOND STOP THE BRIDGE OF THE STONE

Once at the “Ponte Della Pietra” (Bridge of The Stone), located at an altitude of about 1000 m. o.s.l., we decide to take a short break.

The bridge is positioned on two high and narrow rock walls (ravines), at the bottom of which flows the Orfento. To connect the two sides of the river, a wooden walk waylays on a round-stone arch. It’s very Impressive to see how the water flows under it.

ROUTE INVERSION AND TOWARDS THE HERMITAGE OF S. ONOFRIO

Once across this last bridge and reuniting again to the "S" path, we take a Northwest direction.

After a 5/10 minute walk for we decide for a detour uphill along a small trail, and following the path signs, about 1.30 km. from the “Ponte Della Pietra”, we arrive at the hermitage of Saint Onofrio of Orfento at an altitude of 1010.00 m. o.s.l.. Nestled into the side of the mountain, the hermitage is set against a rocky wall facing south. Unfortunately, the structure of the hermitage has almost completely collapsed, but part of the side church’s wall, 14 meters long, and about 3.5 meters high, is still standing. Only one element of the portal’s arch entrance remains with another piece of a small higher arch on the left of the wall. By looking at the structure, it’s easy to realize that the roof was placed on the wall, and built with wooden beams. Residues of painted plaster are barely visible both on the front wall and on the side walls. In addition to the church, there was a living part that developed for about another 15 m..

The place gives a perfect idea of that isolation sought by the hermit Peter and his followers around the year 1245, but the real origin of the hermitage is still unknown and a more recent origin is hypothesized. The presence of some devotion symbols remind us that we’re inside the remains of a religious building still revered today, and dedicated to a Coptic monk who lived in the fifth century, and was son of the king of Persia.

After snapping a few photos, and another small pause, we continue our trekking. The trail now points downhill, halfway on the hill, and below us on our left lays the river. We keep moving towards the “Ponte S. Benedetto” (Bridge of Saint Benedict) and then back to the “Ponte Del Vallone”.

Still on the "S" path we continue towards the Caramanico Bridge. This part of the itinerary, which descends towards East, is easier than the last ones we crossed, even if we realize that some parts of the trail still need attention, and which have steel wires to help the hike along the way.

Along the way small groves alternate with former crop fields where it’s possible to notice an environment characterized by a spontaneous vegetation and sown by man.

SAINT CATALD BRIDGE

Small streams run through the path, forming pools of water that can easily be crossed: we move carefully and watch carefully too. We spot a little Anuran, the Yellow-Bellied Toad.

At every turn of the path our gazes get lost on the breath taking panoramas designed by the waterfalls that give a different outlook on the Valley’s river. A good number of wooden walkways and handrails, allow us to explore the deep gorge on both sides of the river.

Hereinafter, a series of narrow steps carved into the rock lead to an intersection near the Orfento river. On our right, the path leads to the San Cataldo Bridge, a beautiful and ancient stone bridge with its round arch, which was once the only connection between the towns of Caramanico and Decontra. We’re around an altitude of 514 m.

Still on our left, continuing on the "S" path we move towards the "Caramanico Bridge", into the dense woodland that runs closely along the riverside. Here the valley tightens more and more to form a deep gorge.

The environment here is very impressive: an imposing overhanging rocky wall dominates the whole area, the foliage of the trees filters the sunlight giving the river water a characteristic green color, the small clearings invaded by marvelous blooms of anemones, primroses, and cyclamen.

We’re not far from another path indicated as "B6" on the map but we pass further. Crossing the river on wooden bridges, with continuous ups and downs, leading us near a waterfall, made artificially to channel the river’s water flow and use it probably for moving the millstones of some old mill.

Along this stretch we notice many ferns such as the Hart's-Tongue Fern, Common Polypody, and the Maidenhair Fern.

This part of the river gorge becomes narrower and soon we reach the Great Caramanico Bridge located on the S.S. 487 at an altitude of about 536 m. o.s.l.. We Move upwards to the latter, from the altitude of about 500 m. o.s.l., along an escarpment with steps carved into the earth on the north ridge below the bridge.

TOWARDS THE END POINT

Concluding, we Left L’Aquila at 7 am, started the hike at 8:59, all went and ended well, also thanks to the magnificent sunny day. We walked the last few meters through the narrow streets of the town reaching the endpoint at 15:39, which was our start point. The whole trail was long about 18.87 km. and with a duration of 6,40 hours.

Unfortunately, besides seeing some little birds and little animals, we haven’t seen any other kind of wildlife.

An excursion in the Orfento Valley is a must for all those who decide to spend a holiday in Abruzzo.

(Finally, I remind you that visits to the park can also be done with the assistance of local expert guides who will guide you to the discovery of this magnificent place.)

The route was traced with a free application for Android Mobile "OruxMaps" G.P.S. and compared to the Google Earth website. I found differences on the planimetric distances (unimportant) while the route elevations seem reliable.

For the moment everyone can also download the reserved for only members files, but it won't be for long so come and join in our FREE membership.

Giuseppe Libero

UNDERNEATH ENJOY A SHORT PHOTO PRESENTATION THAT GIVES AN IDEA ON THE PATH AND THE NATURAL BEAUTIES OF ITS SURROUNDINGS.