Introduction: this is a hiking route, easy and not too steep, suitable for everyone in summer, but very rewarding for the immense panorama you can enjoy in winter too. Trekking poles are recommended.
It is one of the finest panoramas in the Velino group. Astride the Cimata di Pezza, looking east, you look down on the Piani di Pezza to the right and on the Valle del Puzzillo to the left, as far as the plain of Campo Felice. In the background the Monte Ocre group and then, anticlockwise, the Puzzillo, the Torricella, the Costone. Still going anticlockwise, in front of you stands the hut that is the goal of this hike, and then the two peaks Punta Trento and Punta Trieste as far as the Costone della Cerasa.
Route features: the route has no particular difficulties, it is suitable for families and for children from the age of 5-6, and it is fun to take them up to the hut to let them spend a night deep in the heart of the mountains.
Route description
Piani di Pezza. Park near the no-entry sign at Capo di Pezza. Carry on along the gravel road you drove up, which soon becomes a path, and follow the red-and-white signposts for route 1. Bearing right, within 15 minutes you enter the wood, where the path starts to climb steadily, without steep pitches. Carry on along the obvious path.
Fork of paths 1/1A. About an hour from the start you need to pay close attention to the fork in the path, otherwise it is easy to miss. At around 1793 metres take the path on the right that heads uphill, marked with the red-and-white waymark 1A. The waymark can be read on a stone on the right, right next to the junction of the paths. Carry on along the obvious path until you come out of the wood. In front of you, the splendid scenery of the Iaccio di Capo Pezza, enclosed between the rocky ledges of Colle dell'Orso and of Punta Trento. Always keep to the path that bears right below the ledges of the Cimata del Puzzillo. The route starts to climb slightly. (Estimated time about 1h00m from the start)
At last at Rifugio Vincenzo Sebastiani. In tight hairpins the path climbs up to the ridge above, known on the maps as Cimata di Pezza. Once you reach the ridge the horizon opens out over the vastness of the Valle del Puzzillo.
At this point all that is left is to locate the obvious and very close Rifugio Vincenzo Sebastiani, right below the walls of the Costone, and give in to the culinary temptations of the hut keeper. (Estimated time about 1h 50m, for a total of 2h 50m from the start)
From here you can continue the hike with the Traversata del Velino (Velino traverse) as far as Rosciolo (Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta).
Variants and alternatives
We recommend going up the short stretch of ridge that separates you from the Cimata del Puzzillo (the summit on the right when you reach the ridge). The view opens out as far as the Gran Sasso group.
Other variants:
Variant 1: To this short route you can add a visit to the two summits of the Costone, the eastern one and the western one (See here the hiking route to the Costone)
Variant 2: To this short route you can add a visit to the two summits of Punta Trento and Punta Trieste, going as far as the summit of Costa della Tavola, a hike that can be done both on winter and on summer ground (provided you can drive up to Capo Pezza (See here the hike to Punta Trento and Punta Trieste)
Variant 3: Another important variant/detour is possible by continuing as far as Monte Cafornia, an exhausting hike that can take up to 10/11 hours of walking from Capo di Pezza. (See the hike to Monte Cafornia via Monte Bicchero)
If you want to reach the surrounding summits as in variants 1-2-3, we recommend spending the night at Rifugio Vincenzo Sebastiani, booking in advance.
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Rifugio Vincenzo Sebastiani al Velino (See the fact sheet) a convenient base from which to start the many hikes possible in the very heart of the Velino mountain group
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park to walk up to Rifugio Sebastiani from the Piani di Pezza?
You park at Capo di Pezza, near the no-entry sign. You carry on along the gravel road, which becomes a path, following the red-and-white waymarks of route 1, then at around 1793 m you take path 1A on the right.
Is the path to Rifugio Sebastiani well waymarked?
The path is waymarked, but in the wood there are two or three confusing spots where signs are lacking. You need to pay close attention at the fork between paths 1 and 1A, about an hour from the start, because it is easy to miss.
