The Coleman Trail is a multi-day trek created in the last decade of the last century in memory of a four-day walk through the Simbruini Mountains that landscape painter Enrico Coleman and the then secretary of the Rome Section of the Italian Alpine Club, Ing. Martinori, undertook in 1881.
In particular, the tour of that era took them from Subiaco to cross and sleep in Vallepietra, admire the panoramic views of Monte Autore, broaden their horizons on the karst plain of Camposecco, meet the last inhabitants of the fortress of Camerata Vecchia, sleep in Camerata Nuova and at the Arsoli mill, and, after crossing the ridge at Rocca di Botte, take the bus back to Tivoli.
On other occasions, as evidenced by paintings depicting views of the village and a plaque along a street, Coleman also stopped in Cineto Romano, a village located in one of the valleys of the Monti Lucretili mountain range.
It is interesting to note that, throughout his journey, the protagonist recorded his impressions in his notebook through written notes and drawings, sketching in particular the people he met, the villages, the nature, the splendid views, and often dwelling on the local flora.
Considered a historical document of the time for its testimonies, the travel diary enriches the interest of those who visit the Simbruini area.
(Photos and text:Monti Lucretili Regional Nature Park–Monti Simbruini Regional Nature Park)
The European E1 trail is the link between Northern Europe and the Central Mediterranean. It starts at North Cape in Norway and crosses Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, ending at Capo Passero in Syracuse, Italy. The total length is approximately 6,000 km, of which about 4,900 km are marked and passable.
It was inaugurated on July 2, 1972, in Constance on Lake Constance. The northernmost part of Norway is not yet fully marked due to the long winters and the difficulty of signposting at such latitudes. For years, the official starting point of the E.1 trail was Flensburg, a German town on the border with Denmark. Initially, the trail ended in Genoa, after crossing the Italian border at Porto Ceresio, then the signage for the long-distance trail continued to Castelluccio di Norcia in Umbria, but today it is possible to cross the entire Italian peninsula to Capo Passero di Siracusa (except for the section on Mount Etna, which was destroyed by an eruption). The illustration below shows the route.
(Photo and text:FIE)
The trail connects some of the most important parks and protected areas in central Italy, providing an ideal route for wolves, foxes, forest animals in general, and tireless hikers to roam from one side to the other, crossing mountains, woods, snow-capped or sun-drenched peaks, encountering towns and roads only when absolutely necessary, at least for humans. The theme of not isolating parks and protected areas was extensively developed by Dr. Corrado Battisti in his recent course held at Cacciarella, headquarters of the G.E.P. A closed, fenced-in, limited protected area does not allow for the exchange between animal populations and the spread and multiplication of plant seeds. It is destined to deteriorate, both in size and in species variety, facilitating the onset of disease among individuals. The concept of connecting several parks and protected areas through real paths allows animals to move from one area to another and perhaps encounter other individuals of the same species. The parks involved in the Wolf Trails are: the Abruzzo National Park, the Zompo lo Schioppo Nature Reserve, the Monti Simbruini Regional Nature Park, and the Monti Lucretili Regional Nature Park.
(Photos and text:Via dei lupi)
Le Vie dei Tratturi is an initiative that is part of a larger project involving the Chambers of Commerce of Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, Molise, Tuscany, and Umbria, members of the Interregional Association of Chambers of Commerce of Central Italy.
Le Vie dei Tratturi is being carried out in collaboration with the State Archives of Chieti, which is conducting historical and documentary research on sheep tracks and transhumance, particularly in the province of Chieti, which is the subject of a traveling exhibition in the region; the Gutemberg Association of Lanciano and other associations in the Frentano area, which have planned a series of initiatives on the theme of sheep tracks and transhumance, including during the Feste Lancianesi.
In October, on the occasion of the seventh edition of the L’Aquila-Foggia Tratturo walk (September 29-October 8) promoted by the Tracturo 3000 association coordinated by Dr. Pierluigi Imperiale, the Chieti Chamber of Commerce will organize a number of events in the province during the walk’s passage through Chieti and Lanciano: on October 1 in Chieti Scalo, at the exhibition center of the Authority in the former Foro Boario area, with various initiatives, conferences, exhibitions, a demonstration area with a flock of sheep and moments of pastoral life, and the crafting of wool fabrics, which will be attended by institutions, operators, and the world of education. On October 3 and 4, together with associations from the Frentano area, the usual welcome to the Frentano area, already tried and tested in previous editions, will be repeated with a popular festival that will welcome shepherds and transhumants.
(Photos and text:Le vie dei tratturi)
