Rewilding in the Central Apennines: Italy

23 September 2024 – 6 days for £2,795

Journey into Italy’s Central Apennines region and discover a fascinating introduction into the concept and practicalities of rewilding. Spend time tracking wildlife on foot in the company of a specialist nature guide, while learning more about the Rewilding Italy project. In addition to wildlife, experience the region’s ever hospitable people and their culture and delicious cuisine.

Explore the region accompanied by Mario Cipollone from the Rewilding Italy team who will introduce you to the Rewilding projects in the area. Their aim is for the Central Apennines to be a wilder place, with fully functioning coherent ecosystems and abundant wildlife, where natural processes and complete trophic chains play key roles in the regeneration of the landscape.

Large beech forests, many of which are centuries-old and probably among the oldest in Europe, cover the mountain slopes. Among the huge trees and their mossy stems live large populations of wild herbivores like red deer, roe deer and wild boar. These species in many places share their habitats with large herds of semi-wild horses and cattle and together represent the main prey for the wolves, whose density in some Apennine areas is possibly the highest in Europe. The most charismatic and famous inhabitant of the mountain forests here is the Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies to this region.

The group size will be limited to a maximum of 14 and you will be accompanied locally by a tour leader and highly skilled local guides.

In partnership with The Ultimate Travel Company.

DAY 1: ROME TO PESCASSEROLI

You will be met on arrival into Rome Airport. From here, journey to the quaint mountain town of Pescasseroli, a journey time of around three hours. Check into to the 4-star Albergo Villino Quintiliani, where three nights are spent. Located in the heart of the village on the edge of Abruzzo National Park, this restored 1920s mansion is surrounded by pretty landscaped gardens and has an excellent traditional Italian restaurant with a terrace where you can dine al fresco overlooking the national park.

Lunch will be under your own arrangements.

The remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Before dinner, enjoy a presentation by Rewilding Italy, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote nature conservation through rewilding measures in Italy. Learn about their work in the Central Apennines region, the second main mountain range of Italy, characterised by a rich diversity of ecosystems and wildlife species and important habitats including beech woods, open hillsides and alpine grasslands.

Afterwards, enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

DAY 2: VISIT PETTORANO SUL GIZIO - THE FIRST BEAR SMART COMMUNITY

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Pettorano sul Gizio, the first bear smart community in Italy to learn about how bears and local communities can coexist. By reducing the damage caused by the bears, and by allowing communities to benefit from it, local people will become ambassadors for the area’s wild nature. Rewilding Italy are focused on reducing bear mortality and conflict, supporting nature-based enterprises in and around corridor areas, and raising awareness amongst local communities and people visiting the area.

Here, you will be guided through the measures being taken. You will see how they have dramatically reduced bear damage and increased social acceptance of them through the installation of about 100 electric fences since 2015, along with the deployment of bear-proof waste bins. See just why and how these corridors are vital to the protection of the local community as much as the bears themselves as we visit local entrepreneurs, farmers and shepherds in the region to hear their stories about how wolves and bears are part of the area, and of their lives.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

You will have a unique opportunity to see an active camera trap located in the beautiful Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Reserve and some of its previous data which has hopefully captured some footage. Late afternoon, you will return to your hotel for dinner.

DAY 3: ABRUZZO NATIONAL PARK

In the early morning, you will visit Abruzzo National Park to look for wolves and other wildlife in the valley. Here, you will learn about the human and wildlife conflict in this region and the processes being taken to mitigate this. The Apennine chamois, the Marsican brown bear, the griffon vulture, the Italian wolf, the European otter and the whiteclawed crayfish are some of the key species whose comeback and spread would enhance the restoration of trophic chains and boost natural processes.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, transfer to Civitella Alfedena to visit the Apennine wolf museum to learn about the wolf and its habits. There will be time to relax this afternoon before another wildlife walk in the evening to visit a local bear smart enterprise. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 4: VIST BEAR SMART COMMUNITY – ORTONA DEI MARSI

Today, you will visit another of the regions bear corridors at the Bear smart community of Ortona dei Marsi accompanied by a Rewilding Apennines expert for insight into the project. Witness the work being done to reintroduce the Marsican brown bear into these areas, ensuring bears and humans can coexist peacefully.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit a local cidery to learn more about the processes required and sample some of the different ciders produced. Transfer to Barisciano and check-in to the 3-star Convento di San Colombo Hotel, where you will spend the next two nights.

DAY 5: GRAN SASSO NATIONAL PARK

In the morning, you will depart to one of the Gran Sasso the Bear smart communities, where the first male bears are expanding towards. Focus on how different bear smart community perceive bears.

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to explore Gran Sasso National Park, one of the largest protected and most biologically diverse areas of Europe, which centres around the Gran Sasso mountain peak which, at 2,912 metres (9,554 feet), is the highest peak in the Apennines. Gran Sasso National Park is covered by woods of beeches, firs, turkey oaks and chestnuts, The park contains more than 2,000 plant species, some found exclusively in this area, such as the Abruzzo Edelweiss.

In the afternoon, visit the small fortified market town of Capestrano. The historic town is dominated by the 13th century Castello Piccolomini which was built in a strategic position on the hill overlooking the Tirino River. Continue to the enchanting medieval village of Navelli, known for its saffron production and narrow winding streets with steps carved directly into the rock.

Return to the hotel for a final meal with the group.

DAY 6: PESCASSEROLI TO ROME FOR DEPARTURE

In the morning, depart Pescasseroli and drive to Rome, a journey of around three hours.

On arrival into Rome, you will be transferred to the aiport. Alternatively, you can extend you time in Italy with a couple of days exploring Rome. Please speak to one of the team at the Ultimate Travel Company for suggestions.