Campo Di Giove: Hiking, Nature and History in the Maiella

Campo Di Giove lies at an elevation of 1,064 metres on the southwestern slopes of the Maiella and is the highest inhabited place in the entire Maiella National Park. Mountain pastures, pine forests and extensive beech woods with valuable flora and fauna characterise the surrounding area. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Campo Di Giove will find a place where nature experiences, traces of history and winter sports can all be included in their travel plans.

Hiking trails with different points of focus

Campo Di Giove is the starting point for numerous guided hikes and activities exploring the Maiella National Park. One particularly notable route is the Campo di Giove–Palena stage of the Sentiero della Libertà. It is considered its “centrepiece” and leads from the historic centre at 1,070 metres to the Guado di Coccia at 1,674 metres. For planning your day, the combination of local history and mountain scenery is a defining feature.

The P1 trail offers a different experience: after around three hours, you reach a ridge at an altitude of 2,390 metres. Shortly afterwards comes the Fondo di Femmina Morta area, characterised by sinkholes. At this altitude, visitors can observe not only botanical rarities of the park but also species such as the wallcreeper, the dotterel and the Apennine chamois. The approximately 4-kilometre-long Sentiero tematico dell'Orso near Campo Di Giove, by Lago Ticino, is instead a circular trail dedicated to the Marsican brown bear.

The P3 trail to Pacentro also follows an old transport route of historical and religious significance that was already used by the local population before the year 1000. Along the route, in the Vacerita area, are the ruins of the church of S. Angelo dei Placunti, also known as S. Angelo di Plaquido. The P3 therefore combines a trail with visible historical evidence without restricting every experience to the same type of hike.

Nature observation and historic sites

At Lago Ticino, the themed trail focuses on the Marsican brown bear. Pine Cube is a wooden and glass structure specifically designed for this purpose, enabling direct observation of typical local wildlife such as bears, wolves, deer and chamois. Those choosing their accommodation as a base for nature and cultural interests can incorporate these different offerings separately into their travel plans.

Campo Di Giove’s townscape and architecture still reveal its medieval past. Casa Quaranta houses the Museum of Rural Traditions and Arts. Today’s Madonna di Coccia monastery was built through the reconstruction of a building dating from the 18th century. The origins of the Madonna di Coccia sanctuary probably date back to the Early Middle Ages. These different historical layers also make the town interesting for travellers who want to combine hiking days with regional history.

Winter days in the mountains

The highest ski slopes in Abruzzo are located in the Campo Di Giove ski resort. They run from Tavola Rotonda at 2,350 metres through the beech forest of Quartarana to the Campo Di Giove valley station. For skiing, there is a chairlift to the Guado di Coccia area and a drag lift. The Porrara black run is a technically demanding descent: it leads from Serra Campanile at 1,787 metres over 2,100 metres, descending into the valley with a vertical drop of 700 metres. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a stay involving mountain hikes or skiing, these specific landscape and route features may influence your choice of destination.

Arrival and further orientation

TUA bus services from Chieti, Pescara and Sulmona serve Campo Di Giove, with a stop in the town. To continue searching for suitable destinations within the same area, you can also view Magliano De' Marsi, Trasacco, Rocca Pia, Ovindoli, Foce, Alfedena, Cagnano Amiterno and Castelvecchio Calvisio.

For the higher-level travel overview: L-Aquila.