Porcino Tour

Cycle tour in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, along a route that connects three locations popular with mushroom enthusiasts: Nerito, Prato Selva and Venacquaro. I was three years old when, with Dad's good soul, we climbed into his blue 126 to go hunting for porcini mushrooms. The itinerary also touches Pietracamela and Cerqueto, known respectively for rock climbing and the charming living nativity scene.

The itinerary is physically demanding, with several sections to be tackled in portage. It has no particular technical difficulties or exposed passages, but it takes place in remote areas where it is rare to meet anyone. Some of the downhill sections are not very cyclable, particularly the trail from the Colle dell'Asino down to the Rio Arno, while the rest of the descents are mostly of S2 and S1 difficulty.

The start is from the parking lot of the San Giacomo hydroelectric power plant. From here, follow SS 80 to the junction for Nerito. Along this stretch of road, with a little attention, it is possible to glimpse, beyond the course of the Vomano River, some ancient rock houses: dwellings built directly into the rock, using the natural vertical walls as protection and structure.

At Nerito, the route passes a small fountain that is not very easy to spot, where it is advisable to refill with water. Past the village, a forest road begins, with some rather steep sections. The trail skirts the stream until it reaches it, plunging into the cool shade of a beautiful beech forest.

After crossing the stream, the trail starts climbing again, alternating between hand-pushed and pedal-assisted sections, until it reaches Prato Selva, once a renowned downhill destination, now unfortunately in a state of neglect. Just above the old ski rental is a fountain (as of August 2025 temporarily out of service).

From here you ascend along a convenient dirt road to Abetone. The Laga Mountains rise majestically in the distance.

Reaching a wide plateau, continue along an agro-pastoral path that climbs gently to below Colle Andreole and Colle delle Monache.

From here, take a path on the left that descends along an old agro-pastoral trail to the Rifugio del Monte. The trail is very interesting and has sections with rocks that I would call "easy." .....

At the refuge, the view of Mt. Crow is sumptuous.

This refuge, like a bit of all Abruzzo refuges, is armored and it is not possible to enter it. There is, however, a drinking fountain outside to refill water.

From the refuge you take a fairly smooth path and then continue on a forest road to Venacquaro, near the wonderful (and fascinatingly historic) Bosco Vetusto. A place where man has not laid an axe for over four centuries.

At this point two options present themselves: continue comfortably along the forest road to Fano Adriano and return to the car, or strap on the bike and ride up along the banks of the Colle dell'Asino following the Sentiero Italia to Pietracamela. I, of course, chose the more masochistic option.

After about 300 meters of elevation gain, between pushes and portages, we reach the summit, where fleeting glimpses of the highest peaks of the Gran Sasso d'Italia open through the trees.

From here starts a path that is initially quite passable, but with a final part on loose, coarse rocks that make it not very cyclable. There is no shortage of interesting passages, sublimated by splendid views of the two Corni.

Once you reach the Rio Arno, continue on forestry to the village of Pietracamela. If you are lucky like me, you will also have a small group of foreign female tourists intent on cheering you along the steep cemented road to Piazza Sopratore.

Past the town of Pietracamela, you face a short transfer on asphalt to return to intercept the Sentiero Italia. From here begins a tasty descent, interspersed with short push climbs, that leads toward Cerqueto along an isolated valley, where it seems as if we are at the end of the world, with the Monti Gemelli and Monti della Laga acting as silent spectators.

Once in Cerqueto, it's back to the car along a paved descent.