Introduction: the hike to the summits of the Torricella (height 2071 m and height 2098 m) follows a moderately long route, but the small height gain makes it a route suitable for young hikers too. The rugged ridge of the Torricella lies at the centre of the Velino mountain group, closed to the north by the higher summit of Monte Puzzillo and to the south by the long ridge joining Monte Morrone, Punta dell'Uccettù and Costone. Although less panoramic than the other summits around it, the Torricella can give you a pleasant hike in a solitary setting of valleys and woods not yet too spoilt by tourism.
Route features: the hiking route to the Torricella runs partly on traces of dirt road, partly on traces of path and partly on wide high meadows with no path. The wood, seen in autumn and at first light, gives you a kaleidoscope of colours that is deeply rewarding.
From the same pass also starts the hike from the Valico della Chiesola to the Rifugio di Prato San Rocco.
On the way back, going down towards Campo Felice, you can stop at the Caseificio di Campo Felice (cheese dairy).
Route description
From the car park, on the left-hand side (towards the pass), you easily spot a very rough dirt road going down towards Prato Capito (or Agapito). Without going wrong you carry on along the dirt road, leaving on your right a path that leads towards the Forestry hut and the Prato Capito picnic area. Here you head into the wood that covers the ridge of Monte Fratta. At the second fork you continue south inside the wood, where in summer it is easy to meet free-ranging cattle and horses. The path winds under the trees, alternating with delightful clearings. As we climb gradually towards the Passo del Morretano the vegetation gets thinner and thinner and the meadows wider and wider.
Once you are out of the wood for good, you bend right to pick up the northern ridge of the Torricella. To pick up this ridge you have to bend west, climbing between rocks and awkward meadows but on a fairly gradual slope. Going up the ridge you try to stay close to the crest, or better on the more exposed side of the ridge, the one that overlooks the Valle del Morretano. Here you reach height 2071 m, the one considered the official, formal summit of the Torricella. In fact, a kilometre further on, overlooking the Valle del Puzzillo, we have the real summit of the ridge, which reaches 2098 m.
You then carry on along the ridge, avoiding the path that goes down into the valley and continuing instead towards the highest part, south-east, up to height 2098 m. From the southern summit of the Torricella, heading north-east, you can go down to the Passo del Morretano. In front of us Monte Puzzillo; we reach the lowest point of the pass. You then go down north-west into the wide Valle del Morretano which, bending north, leads back towards the clearings of Prato Capito. At the bottom of the valley we find again the dirt road we had left to pick up the northern start of the Torricella ridge. The way back is by the same route as the way out. Careful not to miss the fork in the wood: turn right to climb back to the car park where we left the car.
Variants and alternatives
The variant most often suggested is to reverse the loop, going up from the Passo del Morretano along the Valle del Morretano, climbing to the southern summit of the Torricella (2098 m) and coming down along the ridge to the northern summit of the Torricella (2071 m).
In our opinion, as people who have walked this route, it is more satisfying to gain height straight away so as to enjoy the views of the surrounding summits as soon as possible, instead of staying boxed in the monotonous Valle del Morretano, which we will walk on the way back instead, and more quickly.
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Going down from the Valico della Chiesola towards Campo Felice you can find bars and restaurants, although we suggest stopping, even just for a coffee, at Casamaina.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Torricella loop suitable for children?
Yes, the fact sheet gives it for children aged 8-10 with plenty of goodwill. The route is long, about 12 km in 5 hours, but it has only 480 metres of ascent and no technical or route-finding difficulties.
When is the best time to go up the Torricella?
Autumn is the most evocative time: the wood, especially at first light, gives you a kaleidoscope of colours. In summer you can easily meet free-ranging cattle and horses in the wood.
