Itineraries on the western Aurunci Mountains

The park area encloses several ancient and characteristic medieval villages where traditional crafts are created by hand and the local gastronomy still offers past times recipes, ingredients and flavors. From each of these villages numerous countryside paths allow visitor to start exploring the park with amusing walks and trekking. The Aurunci rugged beauty of enchanting vistas and Mediterranean nature call travelers to the peaks with view on the South Tyrrhenian Sea. To journey to this land of centenary trees and hidden valleys, castles and shepherds paths, small villages and fields, of ancient history and rural heritage is a journey like no other.

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Our journey takes us deep into the heart of western Aurunci where timeless and tranquil beauty awaits. The park area encloses several ancient and characteristic medieval villages where traditional crafts are still produced and the local gastronomy still offers past times flavours. From each of these villages numerous countryside paths allow pleasant walks and trekking to explore the highest peaks and most charming, hidden valleys of the Aurunci. The rural paths lead to highest peaks and most charming, hidden valleys of the Aurunci Mountains.

One of these small villages is Campodimele, located on the park’s north-western borders where the Aurunci mountains join the Ausoni mountains range. The village can be reached with the picturesque SS82 road from the Liri river valley or from the village of Itri from south. Campodimele is surrounded by a chain of mountains and hills covered by green woods of turkey oak, beech and Q. pubescens that characterize the territory around the village with different shades of green upon the landscape.

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A short and easy-to- walk path through the woods of Mount Faggeto leads to a local spring known for the quality of its mineral water. Along the path and in the wooden area around succulent variety of wild mushrooms and wild wood strawberry abound in the undergrowth. Campodimele’s home-made traditional local home-made salami is well known in the area and renowned as particularly delicious. The village has become famous for its quality of life, far from the stresses posed by urban life and allowing its inhabitants to reach a longevity without equal in Italy and Europe.

The picturesque SS82 reaches also another old town, Itri, also situated within the Aurunci’s mountains’ belt. An imposing medieval castle dominates the town from the barren Mt Grande, where the sea winds prevent the vegetation from growing as it might.

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In the surrounding valleys extensive olive trees groves and pastures are a feature of the traditional countryside landscape and Itri’s olives are well known and exported world-wide, known as Gaeta’s olives . The Aurunci Mountains and hills are renowned also for the great quality of the local extra-virgin olive oil. The village of Itri is also well known for its production of local crafts of old brooms, mats and other objects made from the sharp and strong grass called “stramma” that abounds on the mountain slopes around the town. From the town old center a path leaves the urban area and after few miles reaches the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Civita.

The scenery is enchanting as the path cross through woods of evergreen oaks and scrub grasslands with the South Tyrrhenian sea in sight. The sanctuary is also accessible by car from the town. Continue traveling with us to the eastern Aurunci in this enchanting land that is just waiting to be shared.

            Click on Photos to see the photografies of the Park