Introduction: La Cimetta (2266 m) is a small summit lying north of Monte Prena. It is, in truth, not so much a peak as its name would suggest, but a promontory buttressing Monte Prena itself. A buttress which, seen from the Vado di Ferruccio, is clearly defined, almost a massif in its own right. In considering “La Cimetta” a proper Apennine summit, clearly no account was taken of its position and size, let alone of the height difference from a nearby saddle. No saddle separates Monte Prena from this peak. What evidently makes La Cimetta count as a summit in its own right must necessarily be, on the one hand, history and, on the other, topography.
The view is extremely interesting, over the Torri del Casanova, the north side of Monte Prena and Monte Camicia with the prominent and very conspicuous Dente del Lupo (Wolf's Tooth).
Route features: The path up to the Vado di Ferruccio is very clear and there is no chance of going wrong. From the Vado di Ferruccio you climb to the Piani d'Alburno, and it is here that a little uncertainty may creep in as you follow the ridge. Overall, though, it remains an easy hike.
After the hike you can stop at the Rifugio del Lago Racollo, which serves local produce.
Route description
From the spot where you left the car you walk towards a promontory in front of Monte Camicia. This little hill forms, with Monte Camicia, a small and not very pronounced gully, into which you head. Here you meet the first waymarks, which soon lead to the path up to the Vado di Ferruccio. At first the path winds along the western ridge of Monte Camicia. You often come across veins of grey and black rock cropping out of the ground. These are rocks that clearly smell burnt.
As you gain height the path tends to turn west until it reaches the ridge joining nearby Monte Camicia with Monte Prena. Looking north from the Vado di Ferruccio you can see the relatively distant Cimetta, jutting out northwards over the broad countryside of the Teramo area.
(Time needed from the start: 1h 45m)
From the Vado di Ferruccio the path, exposed in places on little passages covered in scree, leads to the foot of the Prena. You climb a short slope up to the Piano d'Abruna. The Piano d'Abruna is undoubtedly a... ahem... “plain”. At the foot of the imposing turrets of Monte Prena you can see the permanent snowfields. They are just a few square metres of snow that hold out even against the summer heat.
(Time needed from the Vado di Ferruccio 45 m, for a total from the start of 2h 30m)
You walk west across the Piano d'Abruna, keeping almost to the edge of the drop, where you can also admire the remarkable scenery. You walk until you reach a top with a cairn on it. It could wrongly be taken for the summit of “La Cimetta”, and it is not.
You have to descend about 100 metres of height on traces of path running among small rocks and stones. These are not even grade I moves, but you certainly need to take care because of the slope of the ground. You soon reach La Cimetta below.
(Time needed from the Piano d'Abruna 30 minutes, for a total of 3h00m from the start)
Variants and alternatives
Since the hike is fairly quick (though not short), we suggest combining it with a visit to the restaurant of the Rifugio del Lago Racollo. The restaurant offers zero-kilometre produce (ricotta, cheeses and cured meats), that is, genuinely local produce. The board of local cured meats and cheeses served with honey is remarkable.
Alternatively, for anyone who has never been there, a stop at the Ristoro Mucciante is a must: it is a butcher's shop that also sells local cheeses, wine and biscuits. At the Ristoro Mucciante barbecues are lit specially for roasting the meat bought from them. A large number of tables lets you stop to eat local lamb, arrosticini (skewers), chops and legs of lamb... This is certainly one way to boost the local economy and to build a culture of using huts and refreshment points.
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Ristoro Mucciante and Rifugio del Lago Racollo.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb La Cimetta?
About 3 hours of ascent: 1 h 45 min to the Vado di Ferruccio, another 45 minutes to the Piano d'Abruna and 30 minutes to La Cimetta. In total the fact sheet estimates 6 hours there and back, for about 15 km.
Are there any tricky sections on the route?
After the Vado di Ferruccio the path is exposed in places, on little passages covered in scree. From the Piano d'Abruna you then descend about 100 m among small rocks and stones: it is not grade I, but the sloping ground calls for care.
