Meeting at 8:00 a.m. at the Barrea Tourist Office or at 8:15 a.m. in Alfedena. After meeting the guide, we drive to Pianoro Le Forme, in the municipality of Alfedena.
The trail begins within a vast beech forest, which in autumn takes on warm tones and a hushed atmosphere. As we ascend the valley, we gradually reach the tree line, where the scenery changes.
The profiles of the Gendarme and Monte Meta rise clearly against the sky, sharply defined by the clear seasonal light. Passing old shepherds’ huts and high-altitude pastures, the route crosses a valley shaped by ancient glaciers until reaching Passo dei Monaci—an age-old crossroads between Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise, once traveled by pilgrims, merchants, and brigands.
This distinctive landscape is home to a historic herd of Apennine chamois, often seen moving gracefully among ledges, cliffs, and steep grasslands.
From Passo dei Monaci, a final ascent leads to the summit. The panorama is breathtaking: views extend across the main ranges of the Central Apennines and, on particularly clear autumn days, all the way to the sea.
After lunch at high altitude, we descend across a plateau marked by small valleys and rolling hills, sculpted by glacial ice and meltwater. Passing the old fortino—once a defensive outpost against brigands—we re-enter the beech forest and complete the loop, returning to the vehicles.
